Table 12. 



-Average catch per boat, based upon the sale of wool sponges on the 

 Tarpon Springs Sponge Exchange from 1935-61 



Ratio of catch of diving boat to hooker boat estimated as 4.5:1 (based on 

 1955 and 1956 returns). 



Price per pound average based on total value divided by total quantity in 

 pounds sold. 



^ Includes one boat equipped for diving. 



Includes two boats equipped for diving. 



pounds and a value of $250,000, the diving boats 

 accounting for slightly more than half of this 

 take. In 1956 as many as 10 diving boats were 

 operating, but landings decreased because of 

 insufficient crews. 



Needs of the Sponging Industry 



From the standpoint of the sponging industry 

 the greatest need in 1957 was for younger ex- 

 perienced divers. The average age of the men 

 on the diving boats was estimated to be well 

 over 50 years. The labor problem can be solved 

 in two ways: 



First, to attract younger divers from the 

 Greek sponge industry in the Mediterranean. 



This has complications and objections. At the 

 moment, the Mediterranean spongers are earn- 

 ing a better wage than formerly because of the 

 higher price obtainable for sponges in Europe 

 and America. The immigration problem has to 

 be overcome, and any request by the sponge 

 industry to allow these divers to come into the 

 country meets with objections. Sponge fisher- 

 men not of Greek descent state that there are 

 many divers in Florida who would dive for 

 sponges if the earnings were greater. This may 

 be so, but no divers are as yet forthcoming. 



It could be that the possible high income of 

 a physically capable and well-trained sponge 

 diver is not sufficiently appreciated. 



54 



