190 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



zimocca, or coarse sponges, from 15 to 18 paras a piece. 

 In sponge transactions, the rate of the Turkish pound is 

 115 piastres; and of the pound sterling, 125 piastres. 

 They still continue to send sanded sponges to England. 



The sponges fished by diving apparatuses are not so 

 good as those fished by neck-divers, these last going to 

 deeper waters ; the sponges there being of a superior 

 quality. They therefore always cost from 1 5 to 20 per cent, 

 more than the former ones. Although the diving appa- 

 ratuses secure a more abundant crop, they are getting 

 unpopular, owing to the many accidents which are to be 

 deplored every season, the divers using them exceeding 

 the depth prescribed. 



The total number of diving apparatuses imported from 

 France and Great Britain during the last 10 or 12 years is 

 about 250, but not more than no are actually at work. 

 The gears for these machines, which are annually renewed, 

 are generally imported from England. The total number 

 of sponge fishing-boats (including also those with diving 

 apparatuses) belonging to Rhodes and the Sporades 

 Islands, is about 700, employing 6000 men. During the 

 year 1874, only 512 boats were sent to this fishery, of 

 which 96 were supplied with diving apparatuses. 



The sponge fishery in Tunis is most active in the 

 months of December, January, and February, as, during 

 the other seasons, the spot where the sponges are found is 

 covered with dense masses of seaweed. The tempests of 

 November and December clear away the latter, and allow 

 the sponges to be seen. The fishery has, however, two 

 seasons one commencing in March and finishing in 

 November ; the other occupying the rest of the year. In 

 the summer season the production is small, because diving 

 apparatus is then necessary, and can only be employed 



