THE COMMERCIAL SPONGES AND THE SPONGE FISHERIES. 411 
Common names of commercial sponges in different languages—Continued. 
English. | Italian. | Greek. | Various. 
Turkey cup; Turkey solid_--------- a aioe am a er ee | Melati; fina eklekta_-_-__ | Abiund (Syria). 
Hil). he SS ee ere Spugne da bagno; Le- | Melati. 
| vantine. : | ; ; 
DMMB OCR = See 25 se ai ee ee SO Spugne zimocca-.._----- Waco sa Achmar (Syria); tsi- 
mouri (Turkey); had- 
jemi (Tunis). 
Bath; honeycomb; horse; Vene- Spugne da equine__-.---| Hondra (Hydra); kapa- | Cabar (Syria). 
tian, etc. | dika (Calymnos). | 
Elephant ear; wash rag; laparot- |------------- (Sere rene red Psathouria; lafina (Hy- 
omy; flat potter’s. | dra); lagofita (Kalym- 
nos). 
SHEEPSWOOL OR WOOL SPONGES. 
Hippospongia canaliculata gossypina. 
The sheepswool sponges, which are found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Carib- 
bean Sea, and the adjacent parts of the Atlantic Ocean, all appear to belong to 
this variety, with the possible exception of certain specimens from Cuba, con- 
cerning which I am uncertain. They exhibit wide local variation, are very 
sensitive to environment, and when transplanted from one locality to another 
undergo marked change in character. The whole surface of the skeleton is 
tufted with fascicles of fibers, which are longer and more fimbriated in the shoal- 
water specimens. The oscula are confined to the upper surface, are large and 
comparatively few in number.. They are usually surrounded with a circle of 
tufts and are often slightly, sometimes enormously, elevated on cones or tubes. 
The color of the living sponge is black, becoming brownish at the base. These 
sponges grow to a large size, 18 inches or more in diameter, are soft, absorbent, very 
durable, and of good shape. They are unequaled for general bath purposes 
and for use in the arts. They are employed generally for cleaning carriages, 
cars, and other highly polished surfaces where size, softness, durability, and 
great capacity for holding water are required. The larger perfect forms are 
used as gun swabs in the army and navy, or are divided and sold as “cuts” 
for use by tile and brick layers, painters, potters, and other artisans. The 
market varieties are as follows: 
Florida Rock Island (pl. xxx and xxx1).—These, the best and highest-priced 
sponges of North America, are found in the Gulf of Mexico, on the west coast 
of Florida between Johns Pass and St. Marks. They are generally rather flat 
and with a broad base, closely knit, soft and’strong. The surface color is grayish 
brown and the root and interior are little tinged with red. Those from deeper 
water are superior to shallow-water specimens in texture, density, and durability. 
Florida Key wool (pl. xxxi1 and xxxi1).—This variety comes from the Key 
grounds elsewhere described, and is next in value to the Rock Island, which it sur- 
passes in softness, especially if from near Matecumbe Keys, but does not equal in 
