52 



and more especially in connection with the skin-like ex- 

 ternal surface, the remaining two months only representing 

 the period of their growth, A somewhat similar difficulty 

 was encountered in promoting the interference with the 

 crop by the local fishermen, hitherto permitted to fish 

 everywhere without restriction ; but the most sanguine 

 prospects of success were reported by the firm, Messrs. 

 McKesson and Robbins, who undertook the experiments, 

 provided that the grant could be secured of a good tidal 

 area of sufficient depth and dimensions and with efficient 

 protection. 



The evidence just recorded, showing the practicability of 

 sponge culture under artificial conditions, suffices likewise 

 to demonstrate that the acclimatisation of the finest Levant 

 variety in the Bahama waters would be a relatively easy 

 task. The chief difficulty to be overcome would be the 

 safe transport of living specimens across the Atlantic. To 

 ensure success in this direction it would be requisite in the 

 first place to collect at some port in the Mediterranean a 

 selected cargo of living sponges of suitable size and in the 

 healthiest possible condition. If the director in charge ot 

 the Naples Zoological Station (Dr. Antoine Dohrn) could 

 be prevailed upon to lend assistance in this matter, and to 

 place certain of the tanks in the Naples Aquarium at the 

 disposal of the Bahama authorities, the prospects of success 

 of the experiment would be greatly augmented. The 

 specimens selected for transport should be of small size, one 

 or two inches in height and diameter only, and should be 

 attached to their natural basis of support, such as small 

 stones or shells, thus avoiding the great risk of their 

 decaying away, which is invariably associated with ex- 

 amples that have been torn or cut. Tanks suitable for 

 their transit to the Bahama seas would be the next subject 



