THE COMMERCIAL SPONGES AND THE SPONGE FISHERIES. 447 
efficiency of the diver’s work and not infrequently his life depend upon intelli- 
gent communication between him and the boat, while delays and misinter- 
pretation of signals are always annoying and in case of the emergencies likely 
to arise in this class of work are exceedingly dangerous. One hoseman, the 
relief from the pump, who pays out or takes in hose as the diver moves away 
from or approaches the boat; a surplus of hose trailing out in strong currents 
impedes the diver in his progress over the bottom, and should the hose become 
fouled, pinched, or kinked the supply of air may be cut off with possibly 
serious results. When moving from place to place the hose tender relieves 
the stern oarsman, and the bow oarsmen and pump men alternate at their 
respective duties, thus obtaining some rest. On boats provided with gasoline 
engines there is sometimes in addition a man to run the engine. 
At the present time * the rates of pay are based on shares as follows: The 
operator furnishes the boats, outfits, and provisions and receives one-half of the 
gross proceeds of the trip, the remainder being divided into shares, of which 
the divers receive 2% or 3, the life-line tender and stern oarsman 11%, and the 
others of the crew 1 each. ’ 
The deposit or living boats are usually schooners, such’ as are commonly 
employed in the hook fishery, most of them between 10 and 20 tons register. 
They furnish the living quarters for the crew and a place of deposit for the 
sponges, most of which at present are cured aboard, as is done in the Mediter- 
ranean. They carry in addition to the diving crews a master, one deck hand, 
and a cook, the former being a citizen of the United States, as required by 
the navigation laws. To each deposit boat, according to its size, there are 
attached one or two machine boats with their crews. During the first year of 
the fishery one schooner was fitted for three diving crews, but it has never gone 
into commission, on account of the depression of the price of sponges and the 
lessened profit of operation. Most of the boats carry but one diving crew. 
The method of carrying on the fishery is as follows: When the vessel arrives 
in approximately the region where she wishes to work, the bars are located by 
sounding with the lead or by towing a small grapnel lashed in such manner as 
to trip when it fouls. When a bed of suitable size is found, it is marked with a 
buoy and the machine boats are sent away. Since the latter have been equipped 
with engines, they themselves frequently search for the bars. The diver then 
dresses as before described and descends, taking with him a netting bag about 
2 feet deep and 18 inches or more in diameter, with a hinged hoop at the top 
closing like the frame of an old-fashioned carpet bag. The boat, propelled 
either by the oars or by means of the engine, follows him in his progress 
over the bottom, which is marked by a stream of fine bubbles escaping from 
@ This statement applies January, 1909. 
