122 HOW SPONGES ABE OBTAINED. 



over the orifices, I could perceive them moving by the force 

 of the currents at the distance of ten feet from the table on 

 which the specimens rested." 



So interesting are the sponges, which, although ranked as 

 creatures of very low intelligence, yet are by no means the 

 least curious of those manifestations of the Divine Power 



** That built tlie palace of the sky. 

 Formed the light wings that decorate the fly; 

 The Power that wheels the circling planets round, 

 Rears every infant floweret on the ground; 

 That bounty which the mightest beings share. 

 Feeds the least gnat that gilds the evening air." 



All of our young readers must be conscious of the useful 

 qualities of the sponge, but many are unacquainted with the 

 manner in which and where they are obtained. The finest 

 qualities of sponge come from the Ottoman Archipelago, 

 and form one of the principal articles of commerce with 

 Turkey. The island of Calymnos is the principal station 

 for the sponge fishery, and more than three hundred boats 

 are employed, averaging each about six tons, and carrying 

 six to eight men, of whom two are rowers. It may be 

 readily seen that this business furnishes occupation for 

 a great number of people. One thousand men are em- 

 ployed in the Grecian Archipelago, alone; and thou- 

 sands besides with the necessary boats and appliances, 

 are busy in the Gulf of Machia, on the Barbary Coast and 

 elsewhere, so that in many hamlets in these latitudes, from 

 May to September — the best diving time — only old men, 

 women and children are to be seen. The finest qualities 

 are sent in large quantities to our own country, and the com- 

 mon and coarser kinds are forwarded to France, Austria 

 and Constantinople. 



The average depth at which the best sponges are found 

 is about one hundred and eighty feet; those of an inferior 

 quality are brought from a lesser depth. The method of 



