200 I'KOJI'XTS FOR THE IMPKOVE.MENT OF SPONGE-FISHERIES. 



But if the transport were successful, and the sponges bred, it is very 

 doubtful if any advantage would be gained. It must be regarded 

 purely as an experiment in the dark ; and I can see no means of 

 forecasting its result, or testing it in any way, but by its completion. 

 If the difference between the sponges is a true racial difference, then 

 the race from the Mediterranean might possibly prove stronger than 

 the race of the Bahamas, and supplant it, though the fact that the 

 climates are different is against considering this as probable. There is, 

 however, grave doubt whether the dilference be due to deep-seated 

 heredity. The sponges of America are considered no more than 

 varieties of the Mediterranean species ; and Professor Hyatt is of 

 opinion (5) that the difference in quality between American and 

 European sponges is due to the higher temperature of the American 

 water, and to the coral sand. My own experience in calcareous sponges 

 points to most remarkable plasticity in response to changes of environ- 

 ment, and it must be considered possible that, even if the imported 

 sponges bred, their offspring would be indistinguishable from those 

 always existing in the locality. 



C, Close time for Sponges. 



It is so common and so natural a tendency to consider the well-being 

 of any fishery capable of improvement by the imposition of a close 

 season, that it may be worth while recording simply that, according to 

 F. E. Schulze (7), the toilet-sponge at Lesina breeds quite indifferently 

 all through the year. 



Professor Schulze is the leader of all modern work on sponges, and 

 his observations were made on a plentiful series of sponges supplied by 

 Signor Buccich. 



