162 



GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



desirable because they destroy great numbers of young 

 individuals. Sponges soon die on the deck of a vessel, and 

 are allowed to rot for a day or two. They are then hung 

 over the side of the ship or placed in " crawls, " or cages, in 

 the water alongshore to macerate until the flesh is very soft. 



FIG. 66. Showing sponges grown from "slips" on spikes set in cement blocks 

 and left for a time on the bottom of the ocean. (From Moore.) 



When thoroughly rotted, the sponges are beaten and 

 squeezed under water. They are then strung in bunches 

 and auctioned off to buyers on the wharves. In the packing 

 houses the sponges are trimmed, cleaned, sorted according 

 to size and quality, and sometimes bleached. They are 

 then ready for the consumers. 



