742 MARINE PRODUCTS OF COMMERCE 



are also found in the Honduras, Haiti, and other places in the Caribbean. Similar 

 sponges have been reported from Australia, New Zealand, and some of the Pacific 

 Islands. 



Velvet Sponges. Velvet sponges are generally cake-shaped or spheroidal. The 

 surface is devoid of the pointed or sharp-edged tufts characteristic of the wool 

 sponges or the harsh bristles of the yellow; on the contrary it consists of rounded 

 or flattened soft cushions, the outer faces of which lie in the same plane, impart- 

 ing a smooth appearance. These cushions may form meandering ridges or flat 



(.Courtesy U. S. Fnli ami Wildlife Service) 



Fig. 35-2. The velvet sponge. This specimen was taken from Cuban 



waters. 



brush-shaped tufts. One to 3 large ragged holes in the upper surface serve as vents 

 or "eyes," and divide internally by irregular torn-looking septa into numerous 

 circular openings. Jamaica specimens are high rather than broad, and are often 

 subcolumnar; the vents consist of single or double rows of openings on the sum- 

 mits of branching crests running across the top of the sponge, an arrangement 

 which makes, in effect, a gash almost completely across the upper surface. 



Good velvet sponges are very soft to the touch, but in wearing qualities, com- 

 pressibility, and absorptiveness are inferior to sheepswool, to which they are next 

 in value, though not differing much from the yellow. 



They are used for household purposes, for boats, for washing vehicles, and for 

 general purposes in factories, and by painters, brick and tile layers, etc. The best 

 come from the Bahamas, particularly from the vicinity of Abaco Island. The Cuba 

 velvet is better than that from Florida, where the species is found in but small 

 numbers and only in the vicinity of the reefs at the southern end of the state. 

 British Honduras has produced a few velvet sponges about equal to those of Cuba. 

 Those from Mexico and Haiti are inferior. 



