194 KKPORT ON THE SPONGE FISHERY OF FLOPJDA 



men, however, are very much opposed to experimenting in this direction, as 

 they believe it can only be saccessfiilly carried on when the grounds are par- 

 celled out, which they think would result in monopoly, and cutting off their 

 means of subsistence. 



(Signed) "James E. Benedict, 



" Assistant Curator, Department of Marine Invertebrates. 

 "November Uth, 1895." 



Would Sponge-cultdre by Cuttings be Profitable? — To what 

 extent the culture of sponges, after the manner suggested by Schmidt, 

 would be a profitable undertaking, depends largely upon the rate of 

 growth of the cuttings as compared with the rate of growth of uncut 

 sponges. As Dr. von Marenzeller points out, it is questionable 

 " whether it is profitable to cut to pieces a sponge, which uncut would 

 have quicker reached the same size and weight than all the cuttings 

 together in seven years. Under such circumstances, sponge-culture 

 had better be confined to the transformation of flat and, therefore, 

 worthless sponges into round ones, which, though small, would find a 

 ready market. Possibly several, especially misshaped, pieces might be 

 made to grow together, and form larger and better ones." 



Suggested Experiments. — Mr. George Bidder, a member of the 

 Marine Biological Association who has been engaged for some years 

 in studying the anatomy and physiology of sponges, and is a recognised 

 authority on these subjects, has kindly furnished some valuable notes 

 upon this point, in addition to a number of suggestions as to various 

 methods for endeavouring to improve sponge fisheries, which are 

 appended to this report. 



In addition to the practical proposals made by Mr. Bidder as to the 

 most suitable lines upon which experiments might be carried on, with a 

 view to the improvement of the Bahama sponge industry, it may be 

 suggested also that, in case this has not already been tried, an attempt 

 should be made to obtain sponges in the Bahamas from deeper water, 

 either by the use of the dredge, or with the aid of divers. In the 

 Mediterranean, the sponges found in shallow waters, such as those 

 from which they are obtained in America, are stated to be much coarser 

 and less valuable than those taken from depths of from 15-20 fathoms. 

 According to Hyatt, sponges probably occur in American seas down to 

 a depth of about 30 fathoms, and it is quite possible that an attempt to 

 obtain some of those living at greater depths than the 3-G fathoms, to 

 which the fishing is at present confined, might yield more valuable 

 material. This could be easily ascertained, when one of H.M. ships, 

 with divers on board, visited the Bahamas, or experiments might be 

 made with the dredge. Sponges obtained by these methods would also 

 be less injured than those taken with the hooks. 



