290 REPORT ON THE SPONGE FISHERY OF FLORIDA 



adapted to such experiuientiuij, far more so than any other place on the 

 coast, having a greater range of bottom from the oozy marls of the 

 inner lagoons to the hard outer coral reef, waters of all degrees of 

 density, from the Gulf Stream to fresh, and currents to suit. Being 

 already well provided with a vessel, boats, sponge hooks, and water 

 glasses, the question of suitable material for attaching to and sinking the 

 cuttings to the bottom gave some trouble, although apparently a simple 

 problem. Saplings of white wood which were plentiful, fairly proof 

 against worms, and heavy enough to retain their place in strong tide- 

 ways, were finally chosen. They were about 12 feet in length, with a 

 cross piece at one end to prevent rolling over. The cuttings were fastened 

 to them by various contrivances, wedged into holes with pegs, wires 

 around the pole, etc., but the quickest, if possibly not the best, as it 

 afterwards turned out, was short pieces of brass wire doubled and 

 driven into the pole with a peculiar grooved punch, which could be 

 done rapidly. At other stages of the experiment I used bamboo stakes, 

 long double lines of twisted wire connected by cross pieces of white 

 wood, with the cuttings inserted between the strands, also flat pieces of 

 coral rock with drilled holes and wooden wedges. Galvanized iron in 

 any form did not answer, especially wire, as it quickly corroded. Most 

 of the first plantings were lost by its use, and I am also inclined to 

 condemn brass wire on account of the possible poisonous effects of the 

 salts formed on it, although some of the best results were obtained when 

 it was used. Having prepared the sinkers and hooked up sufficient 

 sponge for several days' work, placing them in nets hung from the side 

 of the schooner, the process was as follows : Take the poles or other 

 sinker material in a small boat, two kedge anchors, a small long line, 

 aud the sponge in buckets in which the water was changed every 

 few minutes (in this connection, it has been generally understood that 

 exposure to air and sun for even a few minutes was fatal to a sponge, 

 and at first I was very careful in this respect: subsequently I found 

 that several hours of such exposure did not hurt them to any extent: 

 stagnant water, however, will kill them in a very short time), a cutting 

 board and knife, the latter very thin and re-sharpened often, owing to 

 the calcareous matter embedded in the sponge. Having reached the 

 locality which was at first selected by the natural sponge growth already 

 on it, the two kedges are let go at either end of the long line, and 

 by hauling along this line the plantings could be kept quite regular, and 

 when finished were marked by range stakes set up on the adjacent dry 

 banks. The depth of water ranged from eight feet to less than one foot 

 at low tide, at which latter depth many fine sponges are found. By 

 the use of a water glass the plantings could be easily observed at any 

 time without disturbing, them. In cutting the sponge it was done as 



