228 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



tion and would prove a great boon to the sponge fishery. Not the least important 

 outcome of such a discovery would be the opportunity afforded the shallower grounds 

 to recuperate by the diversion of the spongers' operations. Attention may be drawn 

 to the advisability of experimenting with an apparatus constructed on the principle 

 of the so-called "deep water oyster-tongs," by means of which oyster-beds beyond the 

 reach of ordinary tongs become readily accessible. 



The tongs in question, of which there are several types, consist essentially of two 

 curved iron bars, riveted together near the middle to permit free motion. These are 

 attached on one extremity to the teeth and cradles, and on the other to the ropes 

 by means of which the apparatus is lowered and raised. Beneath the crossing point 

 of the two arms a weight is suspended. To the upper bar of one side an iron link or 

 loop is attached by means of a staple, and on the lower bar, just below the link, is a 

 small iron peg or stud over which the link fits when the teeth are separated to their 

 widest extent. When oystering begins, the arms are locked by means of the loop and 

 peg and the tongs lowered to the bottom. By suddenly dropping the tongs from the 

 height of a few feet from the bottom the loop slips off the pin, by virtue of the weight 

 referred to, and the teeth will then approach each other when the ropes are hauled 

 taut. The weight aud the loop and peg may, however, if desired, be dispensed with 

 by attaching a line to the crossing-point of the two arms and placing weights at the 

 upper ends of the latter, the tongs being lowered by means of the middle line and 

 kept open by the weights mentioned. 



The extreme simplicity of this apparatus is a great recommendation for its use in 

 the oyster fishery, and suggests its employment in the sponge fishery. It is open to the 

 objection of being somewhat heavier than the ordinary oyster-tongs, and in deep water 

 a small windlass must be attached to the mast or elsewhere on the boat, by wlnYh it 

 can be raised and lowered. The cost, complete, is about $ 15. If the principle embodied 

 in this apparatus is found to be adapted to the sponge fishery a modification in the 

 line of lightness and cheapness could doubtless be made. The number of teeth and 

 the carrying capacity of the tongs required in the oyster fishery might be reduced and 

 the apparatus made to consist practically of two opposing hooks, such as are now 

 used in the sponge fishery. 



The sheepswool is probably the most abundant of the Florida sponges, although 

 it is not relatively so abundant as the catch of it and other species would indicate, 

 owing to the fact that its greater value makes it more eagerly sought. 



The decrease in the abundance, of this species has been marked in many places. 

 In the vicinity of Anclote Keys the grounds in 10 to 12 feet of water were exhausted 

 before the civil war; but during the war the sponge-beds had a chance to recuperate. 

 and later afforded some good fishing. They were very soon depleted, however, and 

 have not since borne sponges in any noteworthy quantities. This is the general history 

 of the "bay grounds." Deeper and deeper bottom has had to be resorted to in order to 

 mako the fishery profitable, until now some fishing is done in water as deep as 50 feet. 

 Occasionally good fares are taken on the inshore and key grounds. The latter, in 

 depths of 10 to 20 feet, seem to recuperate more rapidly than the bay grounds, and 

 produce excellent crops some seasons: but they have in general shown the same deple- 

 tion as other grounds, and the spongers have to work over a larger area and more 

 assiduously than was necessary a few years ago. Even the deepest grounds now 

 frequented are showing the effects of overfishing, and would doubtless soon prove 



