334 THE WEALTH OF THE SEA 



mand the highest price, other considerations being 

 equal. Fine-textured sponges are more valuable than 

 coarse ones. 



American sponges are not only classified as to the 

 place where they were taken but also into forms, cuts, 

 and seconds. Mediterranean sponges are usually sub- 

 divided into "fines," "commons," "seconds" or "re- 

 jects," "plongees," "harponees," etc. Sponges taken 

 by harpooning and hooking often are torn, and for 

 this reason they may not be so valuable; therefore 

 the method used in fishing is often mentioned in the 

 classification. 



