HOW SPONGES ARE PROCURED 



articles have often been fished up. Sometimes the diver 

 brings up a " surprise packet" on speculation. I knew one 

 Mediterranean diver who, with great trouble and at some 

 risk, succeeded in taking on board a mysterious iron box, 

 that suggested at least deeds, if not banknotes, jewels, 

 and bonds. When he came to open it in the presence of 

 an admiring and expectant crew, he found nothing but 

 a ruined silk hat and a dozen collars that insult added 

 to injury were a size or two too small for every man 

 on board. 



Meanwhile, how has our man been managing about his 

 breathing ? The question is not so idle as might seem, for 

 all men do not respire alike, and inhaling air that has 

 been pumped down from a height of about sixty yards, is 

 not quite the same thing as breathing in the ordinary 

 way. Perhaps too much air is being sent down ; perhaps 

 not enough ; perhaps air that has already been used is 

 being forced back by the fresh draught. Certainly the 

 latter should not occur with a diver who knows his work ; 

 for the helmet contains two valves through which all foul 

 air can be ejected. To regulate the supply from above, 

 one of the crew keeps his hand continually on the life- 

 line, and calls out the signals as they come up from the 

 bottom to the men who are working the pump. If the 

 diver wants more air he gives three sharp jerks at the 

 rope ; if he already has too much, two jerks. From 

 time to time he also gives a special " all right " signal 

 a very necessary precaution when he may not be ex- 

 pected above water for nearly an hour ; for in that 

 time there is no telling what might happen. Apart from 

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