230 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



Grass sponges are of relatively inferior quality, although largely consumed for 

 special purposes. They are found in all parts of the sponge region, and are probably 

 the most abundant of the Florida sponges, the annual yield not being proportional to 

 the abundance. Large cargoes are obtained on the Rock Island, Anclote, and Key 

 grounds. The Anclote region of late has produced the largest part of the catch, and 

 the sponges there are of relatively good quality. 



The recent increase in the production of grass sponges, especially from grounds 

 in the Gulf of Mexico, has been noteworthy, as shown by the preceding table. In 

 1895 grass sponges constituted less than 7 percent of the total yield; in 1896 the out- 

 put rose to 19 per cent, and in 1897 was nearly 39 per cent. This utilization of larger 

 quantities of a relatively cheap sponge is a strong indication of the decrease in the 

 supply of the best quality of sponges. 



THE YELLOW SPONGE. 



This ranks next to the sheepswool in quality. It corresponds with the Zimocca 

 sponge of the Mediterranean. The dealers classify the "hardhead" sponge in this 

 grade a form having a darker color, harder texture, and less value than the yellow 

 proper. The distribution of the yellow sponge is coextensive with that of the sheeps- 

 wool, both growing together among the keys and on the west coast of Florida. The 

 yellow sponge is most commonly found on rocky bottom, at depths of a few feet to 

 over 30 feet. Those taken for market are from 4 to 10 inches in diameter, G to 8 inches 

 being the average. 



The yellow sponge is very abundant, but less so than formerly, especially among 

 the keys, whence most of the supply comes, and where the grounds, being more acces- 

 sible, are more assiduously fished. The key sponges are of much finer quality than 

 those from the "bay grounds," being softer in texture and more durable. The 

 grounds about Matecumbe Key yield an especially good grade of yellow sponge, 

 characterized by a rich yellow color, regular shape, and superior quality. Biscayne 

 Bay and other grounds on the east coast also produce a fine class of yellow sponges. 



This species ranks next to sheepswool in the commercial scale, although it com- 

 mands a less price per pound than the velvet sponge. In the aggregate Ihe value of 

 the catch of yellow sponges was formerly more, than that of all the remaining grades 

 except the sheepswool, but of late the grass sponge has surpassed the yellow in this 

 respect. The average price received by sponge fishermen is about 40 cents a pound. 



THE GLOVE SPONGE. 



This is the least valuable of our commercial sponges. Its libers have a tendency 

 to become brittle with age, it lacks elasticity, and it has very little market value. The 

 skeleton is dense and the surface is much smoother than in the other sponges. It 

 does not attain a large size, not often exceeding 8 inches in diameter and averaging 

 le-> than " or 6 inches. 



It is a singular and suggestive fact that this, the very poorest of our sponges, is of 

 the same species as the very finest and best of the Mediterranean sponges, namely, 

 the Levant toilet sponges and the Turkish cup sponges; even some of these, however. 

 are of inferior quality. The fact is thus strikingly cmphasi/ed that the quality of 

 sponges is to a considerable extent independent of their specific, characters and 

 depends on physical conditions. 



