THE SPONGE FISHEUV OF FLORIDA IN" li)00. 1()5 



to the (Icplhof water in which tlic sponoiM- is workino', :ukI the .sp()ni>-e 

 <^-las,s — a coiiimon water buckot witli tlic bottoiu knocked out and a 

 l)aneof window o-lass substituted. The latter is used for sceino- ])elow 

 the sui't'ace w^hen the water is disturbed b}' ripples. 



A spono-e " kraal," or pen, is generally about 1(> feet s({uare, built of 

 wattled stakes, and is placed in shallow water in the shelter of some 

 key or island. Each vessel usually owns one, and for better protection 

 from thieves, a number of them are congregated at some convenient 

 place and a watchman employed to guard them. For a number of 

 3' ears many of the "bay" spongers had their kraals at the north end 

 of Anclotc Key. As these were exposed to the full force of the 

 wind when blowing from certain directions, considerable loss was sus- 

 tained on several occasions by the storms washing the sponges out 

 of the kraals and carrying them out to sea. Owing to this the kraals 

 were removed in 1890 to Bailej^s Bluff, on the mainland al^out 2 miles 

 north of the mouth of Anclote River. In 1900 certain of the spongers 

 l)ecame dissatisfied and established kraals at Sawyers, about half a 

 mile nearer the Anclote River. The latter are sometimes called the 

 "Cabbage kraals," from a largo cabbage palm standing on the beach 

 just opposite the kraals. At Baile\"S Bluff' there are about 85 kraals, 

 while at Sawyers there are about -10. A few kraals are also located 

 at North Key, close to the town of Cedar Key. This was at one time 

 a very important kraaling place. 



"Kraals" were also located at Rock Island and near St. Mark's 

 light-house at various times. 



The key spongers build their kraals at various places, no effort 

 l)eing made to keep them together, as in the "bay." The spongers 

 usually select a convenient key and make their camp on shore, and build 

 their kraal in some sheltered cove close to the shore. They suffer very 

 little from thieves, so do not require watchmen. Should the key have 

 any inhal)itants, these usually w^atch over the kraal. 



When first brought to the surface the sponges are black and slimy. 

 As soon as a dingy has secured a load it is sculled to the vessel, unless 

 the latter is too far awa}", when she sails down to the boat, and the 

 load is transferred to the deck of the vessel. They are then spread 

 carefully over the deck in their natural upright position so as to allow 

 the slimy matter, or "guny," to run off easily. At first the}^ have a 

 strong ammoniacal smell, exceedingly disagreeable to those unaccus- 

 tomed to it; but this is soon succeeded by a scent very similar to that 

 of decaying seaweed. After several daj^-s' exposure on the deck the 

 sponges die and a good part of the " gurry " runs off. In the "bay " 

 the vessels usuall}^ return to the kraals every Friday. The sponges 

 are then transferred from the vessel to the kraal,- where the}' are 

 allowed to soak until the vessel returns from the next week's trip. 

 Those brought in the previous week are then beaten out with a short, 

 heavy stick, which removes most of the slime and animal matter still 



