922 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



MARKETING OF SPONGES 



The greater proportion of the catch hmded at Tarpon Springs is 

 marketed through the Sponge Exchange located there. During 1928 

 sponges to the amount of 413,198 pounds, vahied at $729,918, were 

 handled there. This is 75 per cent of the volume of the entire Florida 

 catch and 86 per cent of the value. Transactions are made on the 

 exchange at auction, and bidders represent merchants in various sec- 

 tions of this and foreign countries. 



Our imports of sponges in 1928, which originated almost entirely in 

 Cuba, amounted to 933,232 pounds, valued at $1,124,297, while our 

 exports during the same year, which were forwarded mainly to the 

 United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, and France amounted to 114,917 

 pounds, valued at $146,520. The net consumption of sponges in 1928 

 in the United States, after adding the volume of the imports for 

 domestic consumption to the domestic production and subtracting 

 the exports, amounted to 1,372,673 pounds, valued at $1,829,139. 



Sponges are utilized in the arts and industries, such as in applying a 

 glaze to pottery, for the toilet, and for cleaning automobiles and other 

 vehicles. Some also are used in surgical work. 



In 1929 the quantity of sponges sold on the exchange at Tarpon 

 Springs was 378,514 pounds, valued at $706,645. This is a decrease 

 of 8 per cent in quantity and 3 per cent in value as compared with the 

 quantity and value of the transactions on the exchange during 1928. 

 It is estimated that the value of sponges sold outside the exchange 

 during 1929 amounted to about $75,000. Of the total quantity sold 

 on the exchange in 1929, 206,338 pounds, valued at $606,844, were 

 large wool; 32,635 pounds, valued at $48,952, were small wool; 

 68,776 pounds, valued at $32,096, were yellow; 59,705 pounds, valued 

 at $14,329, were grass; and 11,060 pounds, valued at $4,424, were 

 wire. 



Sponge fishery of Florida, 1928 

 OPERATING UNITS: By gear 



CATCH: By ge.\e 



Sponges 



Sponge hooks 



Diving outfits 



Total 



Hheepswool. 



Yellow 



(iraas 



Wire 



Total 



Pounds 



94, 627 



26,312 



53, 939 



1,269 



176, 147 



Value 



$136, 505 



9,956 



12, 391 



677 



Pounds 



250, 959 



60, 894 



54, 937 



11,421 



159, 529 



378, 211 



Value 



$C41, 992 



28,367 



15, 383 



6,091 



Pounds 

 345, 580 



87. 206 

 108, 876 



12, 690 



691,833 554,358 



Value 



$778, 497 

 38, 323 

 27, 774 

 6,768 



851, 362 



