772 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



will grow,* and finally develop into complete sponges," the government 

 and a number of prominent merchants of Trieste had some experiments 

 made during 1863-1872, and established a station on the bay of Soco- 

 lizza, at the northeastern point of the island of Lesina, which in May, 

 1807, was placed under the direction of Mr, Buccich. This establish- 

 ment was closed in November, 1872, as its continuance became impossi- 

 ble, because, in spite of Mr. Buccich's oral and written remonstrances, 

 it was continually disturbed by the fishing-nets and was actually robbed 

 several times. A species of worm which destroyed the wood- work ap- 

 peared harmless compared to the hostile attitude of the population, 

 which showed an utter want of respect for the property of other per- 

 sons, and manifested deep-rooted prejudices against any innovations, 

 as well as a reluctance to break with old habits. 



The most favorable season for raising sponges from cuttings is winter. 

 It is true that the growth of the sponge aud the new formations on the 

 cut sides goes on slower in winter than in summer, but a high temperature 

 of the air often endangers the entire crop on account of the tendency 

 of the sponges to rot. In winter a sponge may remain on the dry land 

 for several hours, while in summer it will perish in a few minutes espe- 

 cially if it has been injured and if it is not constantly moistened with 

 fresh water. Mr. Buccich exposed sponge cuttings to the air in a shady 

 place for eight hours during February, when the temperature of the air 

 was 48° F., and still they all took root. 



The best localities are bays where the waves are not too strong but 

 where the surface is not entirely smooth either, with a rocky bottom 

 covered with green algae and exposed to a gentle current. It is a well- 

 established principle that the mouth of streams and rivers and of sub- 

 terranean springs should be avoided. The fresh color of the algae is a 

 sure indication that the choice of locality has been fortunate. The worst 

 enemy of sponge-culture is mud. Under certain circumstances it would 

 be well to close the entrance to the bay to vessels by a chain. 



The sponges which are to be cut should be very carefully gathered by 



* I find that Cavolini was already acquainted with the fact that sponges loosened 

 from their bases and fixed to other objects are able to replace any portions they may 

 have lost ; but this interesting fact again fell into oblivion. Filippo Cavolini reports 

 on these experiments on pp. 266-271 of his " Memorie per servire alia storia depolipi fha- 

 rini," Naples, 1785, where he endeavors to prove that the sponges are not plants but 

 animals. He took two kinds of Spugna officinale del Linnwo, probably a Euspongia, 

 also & -Spugna carnosa ("poco atia agli usi economist, perclie difficilmente quclla came colla 

 mar-era zione si sciqglie," therefore probably a Sarcotragus), and a third kind, Spugna detta 

 alcionio foraminosa dall' Imperato, put a thread through every one and thereby fastened 

 them to the bottom of simple clay vessels having two holes. These vessels he let 

 down into the sea in the grotto "ehe tuona," near Naples, and took them up again after 

 twelve days. Although, as Cavolini says, the sponges had been very much injured in 

 gathering, they had a complete newly-formed base (which Cavolini describes very well), 

 their wounds were healing and decreasing in number. Two specimens of the third 

 kind had been forced into a rather narrow vessel aud ;vere found to have grown not 

 only to the sides of the vessel, but also to have grown together. 



