SPONGIA. 79 



trade in this product goes on increasing. But it is only a question of 

 time when the trade shall cease ; the demand which every year clears 

 the submarine fields of these zoophytes causes such destruction that 

 their reproduction will soon cease to he equal to the demand. 



In order to prevent this troublesome result, it is very desirable that 

 the several species of sponges should be naturalized on the French 

 and Algerian coast, and the cultivation and reproduction of the 

 zoophyte protected. For this purpose, the rocky coasts of the Medi- 

 terranean, from Cape Cruz to Nice, and round the islands of Corsica 

 and Hyeres, in the Algerian waters, and even some of the salt lakes 

 of the departments near the Mediterranean, might be utilized. The 

 whole of the Italian littoral would also be available under the new 

 regime for this purpose. 



M. Lamiral considered that the composition of the water of the 

 Mediterranean being thought the same on the coast of France, of 

 Algeria, and on the Syrian coast, that the difference of temperature 

 between the two latitudes especially at the depth where the sponges 

 flourish most would not interfere with the existence of these robust 

 zoophytes, and that their acclimatization on the coasts of France and 

 Algeria would be a certain success. He remarked, moreover, that the 

 more the sponges advanced towards the north, the finer and compacter 

 their tissues became ; and he argued from this fact, that a considerable 

 improvement in the quality would result from the experiment. 



The only difficulty, then, would consist in the transplanting sponges 

 from Syrian waters to the coasts of France and Algeria. A submarine 

 boat, such as M. Lamiral makes use of for operations conducted in 

 deep water, would, according to this naturalist, give every facility for 

 collecting sponges for the purpose. This boat can descend to great 

 depths, and its crew can dwell there a considerable time, for it is con- 

 tinually fed with fresh air from above, which is conveyed by an air- 

 pump and tube into the interior of the boat, so that the men could 

 readily select such individuals as were suited for acclimatizing; 

 removing the blocks of rock along with them, either by placing them 

 in cases pierced with holes, or by towing them to their new abode. 

 Everything seems to promise that in the following year the zoophytes 

 would begin to multiply in their new country. 



The larvae might also be collected in the months of April and May, 

 as they separate from the parent sponge, and be transplanted to 



