THE COMMERCIAL SPONGES AND THE SPONGE FISHERIES. 471 
The best of the grass sponges come from Long, Acklin, and Turks islands 
in the southeastern part of the Bahamas, but as a rule they are packed with 
those from other localities. Though the larger part of the banks lie far beyond 
the marine league, the Bahama government assumes jurisdiction for purposes 
of protection and prohibits the operation of foreign sponging vessels. In 1902 
or 1903, several vessels from Key West were seized on Great Bahama Bank and 
the masters and several members of the crews were imprisoned at Nassau, but 
were ultimately released. The men were well satisfied to secure their own 
release and escape the confiscation of their vessels, and no test was made of the 
legality of the procedure. 
From the view point of the perpetuation of the sponge beds it is not improba- 
ble that the Bahama govenment is justified in adopting these measures and 
others with like purpose, for as long ago as 1875 it was claimed that the beds 
were becoming exhausted by overfishing. The same claim is made to-day, 
especially with regard to the more desirable kinds, and in view of the increased 
demands on the beds in recent years it is probably warranted, notwithstanding 
that the product has steadily grown in quantity and value. 
In 1849 the total exports of sponges were valued at $10,752, and between 
1850 and 1853 the average annual exportation was valued at $50,052. The 
averages at other periods have been as follows: 1855 to 1858, 255,300 pounds, 
valued at $54,097; 1866 and 1869, 625,850 pounds, valued at $164,900; and 
from 1873 to 1875, inclusive, 313,733 pounds, valued at $103,673. 
The exports in more recent years are shown in the table below: 
EXPORTS OF SPONGES FROM THE BAHAMA ISLANDS, 1880-1905. 
Year. Pounds, Value. Year. Pounds. Value. 
429, 400 $168, 125 844,300 $284, 282 
379.700 147,207 893,600 286, 901 
612,500 286,310 965,200 327,690 
541, 600 244,216 I, 365,900 393,291 
I, 274,000 220,932 1, 228,047 437,038 
808, 200 254.498 I, 207, 683 472,933 
676,500 215,918 1,124,585 407,414 
622,300 229,118 I, 165,406 505,462 
789,044 238, 198 1,517,597 92 665,890 
703, 163 251.598 1,515,626 506,310 
917,784 306,195 1,407,958 512,732 
987, 400 284,607 1, 486,128 551,702 
I, OIT, 200 317, 888 
@15 months, January 1, 1901, to March 31, 1902. 
It will be observed from the foregoing that the exports have shown a steady 
increase during the past twenty-five years, and as practically the entire catch is 
shipped abroad the statistics cited can be regarded as an index of the yield of the 
fisheries. During the decade ending with 1889 the average annual product was 
683,640 pounds; in that ending with 1899 it was 1,054,569 pounds, while for five 
years ending with 1905 it was 1,350,993 pounds. 
