THE COMMERCIAL SPONGES AND THE SPONGE FISHERIES. 473 
they now produce but about 20 per cent of the total product of the Cuban fishery. 
This region is the source of practically all of the Cuban reef, hardhead, and silk 
grass sponges. Sheepswool and velvet are now comparatively scarce, but the 
former are stronger and better than the product of the south coast. Certain 
vessels from Key West which visited this region in 1898 or 1899 reported com- 
paratively few sponges and returned with practically none. Caibarien is the 
principal center of this fishery, but some of the product is sold in Cardenas and 
Nuevitas. There are one or two buyers located on the coast, but it is also peri- 
odically visited by buyers from Batabano. 
The most important beds of the south coast lie in the vicinity of Batabano, 
between the main island and the Isle of Pines, from Cayos de Felipe to Cabeza 
del Este. This region is dotted with numerous small islands, keys, and rocks, 
and over most of the bottom the depth is less than 3 fathoms and in very few 
places does it reach a maximum of 6 fathoms. Outside of the banks in the Carib- 
bean Sea, however, the bottom slopes rapidly to profound depths. Sponges are 
also found among the keys and shoals off Santa Clara Province, but no com- 
mercial fishery has been developed in that locality. 
The grounds off Batabano were discovered in 1884 and an attempt was made 
to secure a concession monopolizing the exploitation of the beds. Fortunately 
this was frustrated and the beds were reserved as a common fishery. In 1891 
there were upward of 180 spongers at Batabano alone, and the yield of the 
fisheries in that region was valued at about $110,000 per year. Since then 
there has been a heavy increase in the yield and the annual product is valued 
at about $275,000 to $350,000, as based on the declarations for export. Asa 
general rule, however, the imports into the United States are subjected to 
revaluation, and it is difficult to arrive at a definite estimate of the first value 
of the fishery to the spongers. 
The exports, which represent the entire catch for both coasts, for the fiscal 
years ending June 30, 1903-1906, have been as follows: 
EXPORTS OF SPONGES FROM CUBA, 1903-1906. 
1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 
Exported to— 
| 
Pounds. Value. Pounds. Value, Pounds. Value. Pounds. Value. 
| 
United States.__..-._-_-- 381,462 | $146,076 332,534 | $155,099 366, 388 | $200, 296 325,872 $161,622 
eaner ee ea 357,410 210, 589 384,478 231,140 185,427 114, 438 195,683 133,062 
United Kingdom__ 3 47,934 13,470 38, 612 12,242 19,897 7,764 23,008 818 
Spas = === 48, 726 13,819 35,007 9,398 18, 301 8,319 26,514 13, 400 
Germa: Wace 20, 288 7,500 57,449 23,581 II, 730 6,028 19, 883 9.629 
DUS RAR oe Bil a Cl ee ee | Pe ee) eee 13,900 2,952 IIo 40 
Canada: . + I, 243 Ty SOs |e see ee ee ee 2,055 SAD eee oe [ees ee 
is toy | aT: Eo 2,200 TOO) || eee are aes 2,013 ARO Ces mate RS eee rere 
iS ia ries pas Sea ia 3,148 850 2,285 RT Leo) eee ke epee eka (Seeen ee em eae He ee 
DN Uo Sek See ee | ee eee ence Peeeenen ey oer Beaty bre) S68) oe Pee ote eo Pee Oe ee 
LOS Sot eS ee ee el RS pee ie eee ere 392 easel) ee Seer An ol ea ey a ee ee eee 
Notal-—.---...-=-| 862,411 395,104 853,069 433,308 619,711 341,387 591,070 326,571 
