Sponge Fisheries of the Mediterranean. 189 



Although marked by a great variety of quality and 

 size, sponges may be generally classified as the fine, white, 

 bell-shaped " toilet sponge ; " the large reddish variety, 

 known as " eponge de venise " or " bath sponge ; " and the 

 coarse red sponge, used for household purposes, cleaning, 

 etc. France takes the bulk of the finest qualities, while 

 the reddish and common sponges are sent to Germany 

 and England. 



The fisheries of the Lebanon employ 120 boats, manned 

 by 550 men. The annual yield varies in value between 

 4000 and 6500. 



The value of sponges directly exported from the 

 Sporades is about ^"90,000 additional. Formerly, almost 

 the whole quantity of sponges was sent from the islands 

 of the Sporades to Rhodes for transhipment to Europe ; 

 but since the English steamers call at those islands, 

 sponges are sent direct. 



On the coasts between the latitudes 32 20' and 33 20', 

 the qualities of soft and hard, fine and venise sponges, are 

 mixed and fished for together, at about the same depth, 

 from 4 to 15 fathoms. Beyond this depth the venise 

 sponge, which is mixed with the other two kinds only in 

 the proportion of about one-third, is more abundant, and 

 constitutes the bulk of the fishery. At a depth of 20 to 30 

 fathoms, this sponge, of a large size, is almost exclusively 

 found. The prices paid have been ^for bath or common 

 sponges, according to quality, from 40 to 60 piastres per 

 oke (equal to 2f Ibs.) ; fine sponges, from 120 to 200 

 piastres. 



The sponges fished at Mandruha, on the coast of Africa, 

 are always sold by the piece. The prices paid for them have 

 been bath sponges, from one and a half to four piastres 

 a piece ; fine sponges, from four to eight piastres a piece ; 



