THE SPOKGE FISHERY OF FLORIDA IN 1900. 165 



to the depth of water in which the spong-er is workino-, and the sponge 

 glass — a conmion water bucket with the hottoni knocked out and a 

 pane of window glass substituted. The latter is used for seeing below 

 the surface when the water is disturbed by ripples. 



A sponge " kraal/' or pen, is generally about 10 feet square, built of 

 wattled stakes, and is placed in shallow water in the shelter of some 

 ke}?^ or island. Each vessel usually owns one, and for better protection 

 from thieves, a number of them are congregated at some convenient 

 place and a watchman employed to guard them. For a number of 

 years many of the "bay" spongers had their kraals at the north end 

 of Anclote Key. As these were exposed to the full force of the 

 wind when blowing from certain directions, considerable loss was sus- 

 tained on several occasions by the storms washing the sponges out 

 of the kraals and carrying them out to sea. Owing to this the kraals 

 were removed in 1890 to BaileJ^s Bluff, on the mainland about 2 miles 

 north of the mouth of Anclote River. In 1900 certain of the spongers 

 became dissatisiied and established kraals at Sawj^ers, about half a 

 mile nearer the Anclote Eiver. The latter are sometimes called the 

 "Cabbage kraals," from a large cabbage palm standing on the beach 

 just opposite the kraals. At Baileys Bluff there are about 85 kraals, . 

 while at Sawyers there are about 10. A few kraals are also located 

 at North Key, close to the town of Cedar Key. This was at one time 

 a very important kraal ing place. 



"Kraals" were also located at Rock Island and near St. Mark's 

 light-house at various times. 



The ke}" spongers build their kraals at various places, no effort 

 being made to keep them together, as in the "bay." The spongers 

 usually select a convenient key and make their camp on shore, and build 

 their kraal in some sheltered cove close to the shore. They suffer ver}^ 

 little from thieves, so do not require watchmen. Should the key have 

 any inhabitants, these usually watch over the kraal. 



When first brought to the surface the sponges are black and slimy. 

 As soon as a dingj^ has secured a load it is sculled to the vessel, unless 

 the latter is too far away, when she sails down to the boat, and the 

 load is transferred to the deck of the vessel. They are then spread 

 carefully over the deck in their natural upright position so as to allow 

 the slimy matter, or "gurry," to run off easily. At first they have a 

 strong ammoniacal smell, exceedingly disagreeable to those unaccus- 

 tomed to it: but this is soon succeeded by a scent very similar to that 

 of decaying seaweed. After several days' exposure on the deck the 

 sponges die and a good part of the " gurry " runs off. In the "bay" 

 the vessels usually return to the kraals every Friday. The sponges 

 are then transferred from the vessel to the kraal, where the}" are 

 allowed to soak until the vessel returns from the next week's trip. 

 Those brought in the previous week are then beaten out with a short, 

 heavy stick, which removes most of the slime and animal matter still 



