156 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
SPONGE FISHERY OF FLORIDA. 
The total number of persons engaged in the sponge fishery of Florida 
in 1900 was 2,245; the investment in vessels, boats, fishing apparatus, 
and shore property was $594,595; and the products amounted to 
364,990 pounds, valued at $567,685. These figures indicate a decided 
increase in the yield of this fishery in recent years. The catch was 
slightly less than in 1890, but prices have been constantly advancing 
and the value of the output is now greater than ever before. ‘‘ Sheeps- 
wool” sponges are more abundant than at any time since 1895, but 
there is a marked decrease in the yield as compared with earlier years. 
This decline, which is probably temporary, has apparently resulted 
in a larger demand for other grades. The increase in the catch of 
‘‘vellow” and ‘‘ grass” sponges has therefore more than compensated, 
both in quantity and value, for the decline in ‘‘sheepswool.” 
The following tables show in detail the extent of the sponge fishery 
for the year 1900, and also a comparison of the yield and value for 
the years 1895, 1896, 1899, and 1900: 
Sponge fishery of Florida, 1900. 

| Tarpon | R 
Tete Key West. | Springs. | Apalachicola. | Total. 

No. | Value.| No. | Value.| No. | Value. No. Value. 
= =, : = | 

Persons employed: | E 
Vessel fishermen. -....-.-.----- TOSQ ie eeseecs 120) 22a 909 Wea acne | dl j239) (22 ae 





















iBoaptishermen s+-222. 4075222 GEO ese Cece 180) | See eee 25) || SL eee re Bidet eae eee 
Shore employees. --.--. .-.----- (Sale eros ae Sah eee Pewee al Bea eae. ley eae se se 
Binge oe te HE as Tseey cree eles and ees GHle 2 2 eeren | Poe 
Vessels, boats, etc. : - 1 
WiGSSCISR eee = se enih ce is See 136 $167,170 15 |$11, 831 5 | $3, 150 156 | $182, 151 
Tonnaeonces. oa = soso eae 1 DBL esau ee 2Ouleeee ees St) Sees L150) | Se a eee 
Outhitetee ee. Se ee eee eee 005950) |= ss LOS seen se 35446) eee al) I A99 
1BYORN Es} Soe a ee ei es SS 183 | 146, 450 40 | 28,100 5) |) 3, 915 228 | 1178, 465 
Apparatus used in vessel 
fiSHEGICS eee en ae ee ele a Nome {h0. Saltese oe Ope Wissecex= 96 |sa--neeee 3,153 
Apparatus used in boat fish- | 
CPIOS ree aoa ee eee eee WE Ls ects eA Ri eee (20h\eeaeee i AD Ws seme oe 3, 223 
Shore and accessory property |--------- G9 200 PERE S SOOT eee ae alee eee Sere 112, 107 
Potalrs Lene CN! AA) 4s SIG 518,092 10. ep ole |e -| 10, 652 |....-- _..| 594,598 
KINDS AND GROUNDS.? | Lbs. | Value.| Lbs. | Value.| Lbs. | Value.| Lbs. | Value. 
Catch by vessels on ‘‘ Bay” (eee ae | | 
grounds: | | 
Sheepsiw ool tae eee ee eee 79,466 $229,401 | 12,572 |$37,046 | 1,640 | $4, 834 93,678 | $271,281 
WAG a ees res 1G llr lita 55 2,376 1,584 | 464 309 18,017 | 13, 198 
Grasse 5. eer eee See 26,7381 ; 8,140) 8,195 2, 135 585 | 156 | 35,511 10, 481 
GlOVes-2 vase Heres oo ae eee 948 | 1B i eee Bo A Se eee he Ss aioe 945 134 
Velvetor boats. sana 386 G45 | ee a | eee | Saeed eae 386 64 
Total .........--.-.--.----.} 122, 708 | 249,044 | 23,143 | 40,815 | 2,689 | 5,299 | 148,540 | 295, 158 
Catch by vesseis on “Key” | (aes | | G Paelerih 
grounds: | : 
Sheepsiwools- 282 22.3. 222252 LON TO) | 4 TSH Ge ese |e eee | Beet eae 19,199 41, 856 
Welloweiere ree 10, O10 8560834) es sae owl ae jeeeeeae aes ae 10, 010 8, 603 
Qrrass:: Bese reese eens e cae 18, 266 DSTI ale seer cole ee eee e- ou8 |) roe 18, 266 5, 778 
GlOWeN te aeete eet eede cokes cess. 3, 748 Lay tel seer 8 ent ee | Boe ae ha ge meee 3, 748 542 
Velvetronmboatwenews soss-2 ee. POSIT | Nat reac ee 8 aS eee een 2,141 1, 752 
Tofal a: eee eee wu, (2$3, 264" | (BBs Bais | see we NS te el ae ere ae 



1 Includes value of outfit. 
: ‘Bay ” grounds,i.e., Gulf of Mexico; *‘Key” grounds, i.e., vicinity of the islands of southern 
Florida. 
