THE COMMERCIAL SPONGES AND THE SPONGE FISHERIES. 445 
The first diving or machine boats used in Florida were small sponging 
sloops from which the cabins were removed and which were otherwise remodeled 
to suit the requirements. The pump was installed in the hold, from which 
the hatch was removed, the sides were built up and pins or crutches, two on 
each side at a considerable height above the deck, were provided for the sweeps. 
A shorter mast was introduced and rigged with a spritsail. 
It was soon found that these boats were heavy and clumsy for the work, 
and boats of the Greek type (pl. xxrx) were speedily introduced and are 
now almost universally employed. They are ‘‘double-enders” with high bows 
and sterns and considerable shear, making them good, dry sea boats in any 
weather, either under way or at anchor, and they are spritsail rigged. More 
recently gasoline engines have been placed on many of the boats, the propeilers 
being guarded by cages to prevent fouling of the hose or life line, an accident 
which might readily prove fatal to the diver at work. The machine boats are 
also provided with two pairs of stout crutches, to which the sweeps are slung 
by rope loops or grommets, and on each side amidships is a rail about 18 inches 
high, with a sailcloth curtain or screen stretching to the gunwhales. When not 
in use the oars or sweeps rest fore and aft on the crutches. On the starboard 
side forward is a heavy ladder, hinged so that it can be swung outboard or 
stowed inboard as required, and of sufficient length to extend 2 to 2% feet below 
the surface of the water. This is an essential feature of the machine boat, as 
without it the diver in his heavy cumbersome armor could be brought aboard 
only with extreme difficulty. The Greek boats have each a circular hatch for- 
ward, in which stands the man using the water glass. The machine boats of 
the Greek type are about 32 feet long and about 11 feet beam on deck, and, 
fully equipped with a good pump and gasoline engine for propulsion, cost 
about $2,000. 
The pump is of the usual type employed in diving operations, is placed 
amidships in the boat and when not in use is covered by a hatch to protect it 
from the weather. The diving dress consists of a helmet, breastplate, shoes, 
and weights. The suits, which are made of several sizes to suit the physical 
proportions of the divers, are of double waterproof cotton cloth with rubber 
between and completely cover the body with the exception of the hands, a 
close-fitting rubber cuff being provided at the wrists, and a heavy rubber yoke 
or collar extending across the breast, back, and shoulders. The helmet is of 
tinned copper with three heavy glass windows at the front and sides and one 
obliquely above in front. At its back are two valves, one with a connection 
for the hose and the other for the discharge of vitiated air. In some helmets 
the latter valve is automatic, but few of the Greek divers will use this, preferring 
those in which the escape of air from the helmet is regulated by the diver, the 
valve being held in place by a spring and released by pressing against it with the 
