NORTH AMERICAN PORIFER^. PART II. 485 



forwarded, are much coarser than the Key West, darker in color, and, hi fact, just about 

 intermediate between these and those of AustraHa. They are occasionally found in the 

 stores, but as a rule, are used only by the fishermen themselves about their boats, the 

 Bahama sponges being preferred for domestic purposes by the inhabitants. Of course no 

 complete report can be written vmtil Mr. Goode's collection, which is very large, and has 

 been very carefully made, can be examined ; but it appears that the finest forms grow only 

 in the protected lagoons at depths varying from five to twenty feet on a sandy bottom. The 

 temperature was not stated. They are cured in a very careless manner l)y exposure to 

 the weather, a process which doubtless does not increase their value. 



The true Spongia3 are all shallow water forms. In the Mediterranean, according to 

 Eckhel,^ they are not found below thirty fathoms, and in our own seas about the same 

 probably, though not fished to greater depths than five fathoms. The fishery is principally 

 carried on in the West Indies by the aid of a sort of hooked fork, two shepherd's crook-like 

 hooks on a long pole. The fishermen cannot so successfully work at considerable depths 

 with this instrument, as by diving, or with the diving apparatus or armor, and various forms 

 of drags, etc., employed in the Mediterranean. The greater part of tlie fishery is accom- 

 plished between the depth of three and twenty feet, according to the report of Dr. Palmer, 

 from Avhich these remarks are principally derived. The finest qualities of American 

 sponges are obtained in the Bahamas, the principal depot being at Nassau. 



The process of preparation is not so careful as in Europe, probably owing to the greater 

 coarseness and cheapness of the specimens. The actual fishing is done from boats, generally 

 belonging to some schooner or larger craft. The boats are sent out from the vessel manned 

 by two men. One sculls slowly along, while the other watches the bottom with a water 

 glass. This is a tube about a foot square, closed by a pane of glass at the lower end, 

 which prevents the reflection of light from the surface, and enables a keen observer to 

 detect ol^jects on the bottom at a considerable depth. When sponges are sighted a signal 

 causes the sculler to stop the boat, the water glass is laid aside, and the sjsonges are 

 dragged up by means of the hooks. When the fishing is at an end, or the vessel loaded, the 

 cargo is taken to land and " killed," as it is called, by exposure for a few days to the air. 

 After this, the now highly, offensive mass is moved into the "crawls." These are pens made 

 by driving stakes into the sand where the water is from six to ten feet deep. They are 

 thrown into these cribs and left to be Avashed clean by the action of the surf. This takes 

 about one week, at the end of Avhich time the skeletons are examined, and if found to be 

 entirely cleansed of animal matter, dried, sorted according to quality, and strung on cords a 

 fathom in length. They are generally sold b}' the cargo. The bases are clipped off, and the 

 sponge trimmed with shears and packed in pressed bales for transportation to New York or 

 England, where they are largely used for the manufacture of pilot cloth, hats, etc.^ They 

 are not of sufficiently good quality to compete with Mediterranean sponges, and are there- 

 fore rarely employed for domestic purposes, except in Great Britain (?) and the countries 

 of North and South America. 



The fisheries near shore are abandoned in the winter on account of the turbid state of 

 the water, which becomes " milky" with suspended coral sand during the more tempestuous 



' Der Baileschwamm, by Von Ecklii/1. Trieste, 1873- tensively for stuffing mattresses, carriage cushions, etc., in 

 (Eckhel Brothers.) place of hair. 



^ The coarser kinds and clippings are also used quite ex- 



MEUOIBS BOST. SOO. NAT. HIST. TOL. U. 122 



