A PRACTICAL METHOD OF SPONGE CULTURE. 549 
of sponges of a less diameter than at least 4% or preferably 5 inches, the danger of 
extinction of our American beds would be eliminated; but there are certain 
serious objections which may be urged against this solution of the difficulty, 
which at best can be but a partial solution. Aside from the difficulties and 
expense of enforcing such regulations and the hardship which they may at times 
work upon the spongers, the most serious objection is that they would from 
their very nature restrict the output of the fishery, or, at best, would not permit 
its development commensurately with the increasing demands of the markets. 
The writer has discussed the question at length in the paper above referred to, 
but for present purposes it appears to be advisable briefly to consider again the 
force of the last and major objection just mentioned, particularly with reference 
to the waters of the United States, although the application is general. 
That the demand for sponges is growing rapidly can not admit of dispute. 
Prior to the discovery of the beds of Florida the imports of sponges into the 
United States were insignificant, and of course none was produced at home. 
There was practically no demand, except for domestic purposes. Thirty years 
later, in 1879, the imports had increased to an average value of $100,000 to 
$120,000, while the average annual importation for the three years from 1905 
to 1907 was valued at no less than $531,745. The domestic production grew 
from nothing in 1849 to $200,000 in 1880 and an average of $658,403 per year 
from 1906 to 1908, most of which was consumed at home. In certain other 
countries also, notably Russia, Turkey, Spain, and the various states of South 
America, where very few or no sponges were formerly used, the past two 
decades have developed an important consumption. With the development of 
civilization and modern methods of industry the countries of Asia, too, are sure 
to make important demands for this practically indispensable product of the 
seas. 
No doubt new beds will be discovered from time to time and new regions 
will come into productiveness, but it is not believed possible, in view of what is 
known of the resources of the sea in most localities in which sponges may be 
expected to occur, that any vast areas producing the more desirable grades will 
be brought to light. If regulations governing the fisheries will merely preserve 
what we now have and will not materially augment production, there is forced 
upon us consideration of the necessity and possibility of increasing the supply 
by artificial means analogous to those employed in oyster culture or some other 
type of aquiculture. From a study of the breeding and life history of the com- 
mercial sponges two broad avenues of experiment open themselves. Research 
has shown that sponges may be propagated either in the natural sexual way by 
means of eggs, or artificially by cuttings or their equivalent. The following is a 
brief history of various observations, experiments, and suggestions in these 
directions: 
