THE ARTIFICIAL CULTURE OF SPONGES. 189 



B. Sponges could probably be transported alive from the Mediterranean to the Bahamas, 

 but it is not certain that even if they bred freely, their progeny would maintain 

 the superior character of the parents. 



C. There is no special breeding season for sponges. 

 Appendix. — Rate of Growth of Sponges. 



The Florida Sponge Fishery.* — It was not until the year 1850 

 that the attention of American sponge merchants was directed to the 

 fact that the reefs of South Florida possessed an abundant growth 

 of sponges. Previous to that time, all sponges sold in America had 

 been obtained from the IMediterranean or the Bahamas. Wlien, 

 however, the true value of the Florida sponges was once realised, an 

 important industry grew rapidly, the island of West Key and the town 

 of Apalachicola being at the present time chiefly interested in the pro- 

 motion of the fishery. 



In Florida, as in the Bahamas, five principal grades of sponges 

 are recognised. The most valuable of these is the shcepsivool sponge, 

 which is regarded by naturalists as a variety of Hippospongia equina, 

 the horse-sponge and Venetian bath sponge of the Mediterranean. 

 The representative in America waters of Euspongia officinalis, the 

 Levant toilet sponge and the Turkey cup sponge, the most valuable 

 kinds found in the East, is the glove sponge, which is, however, the 

 least valuable of the American grades. The grades intermediate 

 in value between the sheepswool and the glove sponges are the velvet, 

 another variety of Hippospongia equina, the yellow, and hard-head sponges, 

 which may belong to the same species as the Mediterranean Zimocca 

 sponge {Euspongia zimocca), and the grass sponge {Spongia graminea, 

 possibly a variety of Eusp>ongia officinalis), a grade of little value. 



By far the most costly sponges in the market are those from the 

 Mediterranean, the sheepswool sponges of the Bahamas and Florida 

 being regarded as the next in quality. Of the latter, the Florida 

 sponges are said to be superior to those sent from the Bahamas, 

 being supposed to possess a somewhat finer texture, and a more regular 

 and compact mode of growth. The irregularity of shape of the 

 Bahama sponges is stated to be due to the irregular nature of the 

 bottom on which they grow, f 



The method by which the sponges are procured in Florida is similar 

 to that practised in the Bahamas, but differs essentially from the usual 



* The following account has been compiled, for the most part, from an article by Kathbun 

 in "The Fishery Industries of the United States" (Section V. vol. 2, p. 819), published by 

 the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Washington, 1887. The discussion of the 

 question by Dr. Juan Vilaro [Esponjicultura cuhunn, Revista do Pesca JIaritima VII. 

 Madrid, 1891], was also consulted ; it is compiled chiefly from the American Reports. 



t The method of preparation of Bahama sponges is also stated to be inferior to that 

 practised in Florida. 



