232 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



within such -waters to a depth uot exceeding 1 fathom at low tide: Provided, That this exclusive right 

 to grow and propagate sponges shall not extend beyond the distance of 300 yards from the shore line. 

 And when different persons own hinds upon the opposite sides of such waters, and the depth thereof 

 does not exceed 1 fathom, then the lines shall extend from lines drawn across their respective headlines 

 to another line equidistant from the lines drawn across such headlines. 



SKC. 3. It shall he lawful for any person or persons owning lands as described in the preceding 

 sections, or surrounding any basin, bay, or lagoon not exceeding 1 fathom in depth at low tide, to 

 inclose or stake off the waters in front of such land, not exceeding the distance of 300 yards from the 

 shore line, for the purpose of protecting and marking the waters to which they are entitled, and 

 they shall have the sole and exclusive right to sponge, propagate, and grow sponges within such 

 limits out to a depth in front of such lines drawn through the headlines of their respective lines, and 

 they shall have the right to post such inclosures and wain <>IV trespassers: 1'rorided, That no one shall 

 obstruct the waterways necessary for the purposes of navigation, and that no right or privilege shall 

 extend across or beyond any waters used for navigable purposes: Provided further, That the rights 

 and privileges mentioned in this act shall only extend to those persons who are actually engaged in 

 the business of raising and propagating sponges. 



SKC. 4. That nothing in this act shall be construed as interfering with the rights of any person 

 or persons to fish for fish or oysters in or upon said lands. 



SEC. 5. Any person or persons who shall willfully and maliciously destroy, deface, or break down 

 any sign, fence, gate, inclosure, or staked place for the purpose of defining and protection of waters 

 used for sponge-culture shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a 

 period not to exceed six months, or by fine not to exceed $500. 



. <i. It shall be lawful for any person or persons engaged in the business of artificial growth of 

 sponge to gather sponges of any size to be used solely and exclusively for the purpose of transplanting. 



SEC. 7. That any person not a citizen of the United States who shall engage in the business of 

 sponge fishing, either for himself or any other person, shall, before entering into said business, pay an 

 annual state license of $25. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, 

 be fined in a sum not to exceed $50, or be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not to exceed sixty 

 days. (Act of May 12, 1897, chapter 4564.) 



EVIDENCES AND CAUSES OF A DECREASE IN THE SPONGE SUPPLY. 



Although the sponge fishery of Florida is only forty-five years old, the sponge- 

 grounds are on the whole much less productive than formerly, as is acknowledged by 

 practically everyone who is in a position to express an intelligent opinion. Of course 

 there are still very important grounds among the keys and on the west coast of the 

 State, and sponges still exist and are taken in very large quantities; but the efforts 

 now made would result in a vastly increased catch if the sponges were found in any- 

 tJiin.u like their original abundance. There are many points of similarity between the 

 history of the Florida sponge-grounds and that of the oyster-grounds of some States 

 in which dependence has been chiefly placed in the natural beds for supplying the 

 demand. In confirmation of the diminution of the sponge supply, the following facts 

 may be cited : 



1. There has been a complete abandonment of some grounds formerly productive, 

 especially the inshore grounds, which were the only ones resorted to in the early days 

 of the fishery. The depletion naturally began in the shoaler waters, where sponges 

 could be more easily gathered, and has gradually extended so as to embrace, to some 

 degree, all available grounds. 



2. The fishery has had to be prosecuted in deeper and deeper water in order to 

 maintain the catch, until the maximum depth in which sponging is possible with 

 present methods has been reached. Beyond 50 or 52 feet it is practically impossible 

 to pull sponges with appliances now in use, although in the Mediterranean sponging 

 is done in water as deep as 70 ieet by using improved poles. 



