174 KKPORT OF COMMISSIONKK oK FISH AND FISHERIES. 



weight of the .spontrc Kock .salt, glucose, molasses, lead, gravel, 

 sand, and stones are the substtuu-es geiieralh' used. Most of tlie ware- 

 houses have water-tight bins in which glucose or molasses, sand, and 

 rock salt are mixed together in water. According as more or less 

 weight is desii'ed, the quantity of certain of tlic ingredients is; incivascd 

 or decreased. 'Vho sponges are tlioroughly soakc^d in this preparation 

 and are then run through an oi'dinary clotlies-wringer, or laid on an 

 inclined rack and allowed to drain into the ))in. Some years ago the 

 loading of sponges was quite conunon. and l)ecame such an evil in the 

 trade that an agreement was made by the dealers that loading Avould 

 be abandoned. This agreement was lived up to until within the last 

 two or three years, when certain dealers resumed the practice. As the 

 loading ena])led the ])uyers to pay more for their sponges and still 

 not increase the price to their customers, the bu^'ers who had not taken 

 it up were compelled to do so in self-defense. ]Most buyers would 

 g'ladh^ a))andon the loading if the agreement was made unanimous. 



No sponges are bleached at the warehouses in Florida, this part of 

 the business being done at the whol(>sale houses or l)y the jobbers in 

 the trade. Small sheepswool sponges are (juite generally bleached, as 

 it gives them a better color. The bleaching of the yellow sponge, and 

 the consequent great improvement in its hitherto poor color, has made 

 it more attractive, and the increase in its value dui-ing the past vcar 

 has l^een quite remarkable. Owing to the prevailing high ])rices for 

 sheepswool, it is supplanting the latter for many purposes. In bleach- 

 ing, lime and acids are used. This bleaching undoubtedly injures the 

 sponges, as it weakens the lil)er and considerably shortens th(^ jieriod 

 of its usefulness. The spongers l>leach a few sheepswool. Th(\v are 

 usually washed in soap}' water and, after being covennl with soap- 

 suds, are hung up on poles on shore or on the masts of the boats. 

 The action of the nightly dews and the sunlight in conjunction with 

 the soapsuds l)leaches them to a beautiful white or golden color in 

 one or two weeks. This manner of bleaching preserves the liber of 

 the sponge intact, and it is as dui"al)le when bleached as ])efore. These 

 sponges are either given away b}- the spongers or sold to the merchants 

 in Key West, who sell them to tourists. 



The two following tables show the condition of the sponge-buying 

 business during 1900, and the rapid increase in the quantity of sponges 

 bought at Tarpon Springs. In 1895 there were three buyers at this 

 place and the total value of the sponges purchased amounted to 

 $60,000. In 1900 there were six buyers and their com])ined purchases 

 amounted to $278, ,550, an increase of three buyers and $218,550 in 

 value. In 1895 Key West had nine })uyers, who purchased $312,020 

 worth of sponges, while in I'.iixi there were eleven ])uyers, an increase 

 of two, and the combined })urchases amounted to $289,135 in value, a 

 decrease of $31,805 in value. The decrease at Key West would 



