iTi REPORT OF COMMISSIOI^ER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



weight of the .sponge. Hock .salt, glucose, inohisse.s, lead, gravel, 

 sand, and .stones are the substances general!}' used. Most of the ware- 

 houses hav^e water-tight bins in which glucose or molasses, sand, and 

 rock .salt are mixed together in water. According as more or less 

 weight is desired, the quantity of certain of the ingredients h increased 

 or decreased. The sponges are thoroughl}' soaked in this preparation 

 and are then run through an ordinary clothes-wringer, or laid on an 

 inclined rack and allowed to drain into the bin. Some years ago the 

 loading of sponges was cjuite common, and became such an evil in the 

 trade that an agreement was made hy the dealers thtit loading would 

 be abandoned. This agreement was lived up to luitil within the last 

 two or three years, when certain dealers resumed the practice. As the 

 loading enabled the bu5^ers to pay more for their sponges and still 

 not increase the price to their customers, the buj'ers who had not taken 

 it up were compelled to do so in self-defense. Most buyers would 

 gladly abandon the loading if the agreement was made unanimous. 



No sponges are bleached at the warehouses in Florida, this part of 

 the busine.ss being done at the wholesale houses or b}- the jobbers in 

 the trade. Small sheep.swool sponges are quite generall}' bleached, as 

 it gives them a better color. The bleaching of the yellow .sponge, and. 

 the consequent great improvement in its hitherto poor color, has made 

 it more attractive, and the increase in its value during the past year 

 has been quite remarkable. Owing to the prevailing high prices for 

 sheepswool, it is supplanting the latter for many purposes. In bleach- 

 ing, lime and acids are used. This 1)leaching undoubtedl}' injures the 

 sponges, as it weakens the fiber and considerably shortens the period 

 of its usefulness. The spongers bleach a few sheepswool. The}- are 

 usually washed in soap}^ water and, after being covered with soap- 

 suds, are hung up on poles on shore or on the ma.sts of the boats. 

 The action of the nightly dews and the sunlight in conjunction with 

 the soapsuds bleaches them to a beautiful white or golden color in 

 one or two weeks. This manner of l)leaching pre.serves the liber of 

 the sponge intact, and it is as durable when l)leached as before. These 

 sponges are either given away by the spongers or sold to the merchants 

 in Key West, who sell them to tourists. 



The two following tables show the condition of thc^ sponge-buying 

 business during 1900, and the rapid increase in the {[uantity of .sponges 

 bought at Tarpon Springs. In 1895 there were three l)uyers at this 

 place and the total value of the sponges purchased amounted to 

 100,000. In 1900 there were six buyers and their combined purchases 

 amounted to $278,550, an increase of three buj^ers and ^^218, 550 in 

 value. In 1895 Key West had nine buyers, who purchased $312,020 

 worth of .sponges, while in 1900 there were eleven buyers, an increase 

 of two, and the combined purchases amounted to $289,135 in value, a 

 decrease of $31,865 in value. The decrease at Kev West would 



