492 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
stood that instructions given by the Albatross party have resulted in improve- 
ment in this respect. 
About the island of Sitanki or Sibutu there are considerable beds of 
sponges resembling somewhat the toilet sponge of the Mediterranean, though 
with the upper surface more fibrous and with numerous closely ranged pores. 
The sponge is very soft, but much weaker in fiber than its Mediterranean con- 
gener. Thirty or forty thousand of these have been marketed in Singapore 
and shipped to New York and London, where they brought a low price. 
On the south side of Jolo the Albatross obtained a single beach-worn speci- 
men closely resembling the reef sponge of North American waters. From the 
north side of the same island there was collected, in a depth of 20 fathoms, a 
specimen resembling the elephant-ear sponge, very strong but harsh and rather 
incompressible. The texture is closer and more dense than in the Mediter- 
ranean sponge and the primary fibers of the skeleton are so heavily laden with 
sand granules as to render it of but little commercial value. It is possible 
that superior qualities may be found in other localities. The specimen collected 
is about 15 inches in diameter, almost flat, with several flaps or lamella on the 
upper surface, and was attached by a short stalk or peduncle. 
Small sponges said to resemble the Key grass of Florida are sold in the 
shops of Cebit and are reported to come from nearby reefs. Others of excellent 
quality resembling wool and yellow sponges are sold in native shops in various 
places but are believed to be imported. I have been shown a specimen, said to 
be indigenous, which very closely resembled the Bahama sheepswool. It had 
apparently been in use for bath purposes and I am convinced that it was exotic. 
Another specimen from an unknown locality was of excellent shape and quality, 
somewhat resembling the honeycomb sponge of the Mediterranean but differing 
from it sufficiently to remove suspicion that it was not of native origin. It was 
soft, strong, firm, and elastic, rather flat and attached by a narrow base. If it 
can be obtained in quantities, it should prove of considerable commercial value. 
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. 
The sponge fauna of Australia is exceedingly rich, and according to 
Lendenfeld the zoological species which include the elephant ear, honeycomb, 
zimocca, glove, and reef sponges are found on its coasts, in addition to several 
others which he regards as of possible commercial value. The rather poor 
specimens of Australian sponges which I have examined, comprising 10 or 15 
species of supposed commercial value, were nearly all of inferior quality, open 
in texture, irregular, hard, and harsh. The specimens had the appearance of 
being beach worn, and the defects of some of them were due in part to imperfect 
curing. One or two kinds could probably find a limited market at a low price. 
Attempts have recently been made to find a market for these sponges with a 
