CXXX REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The following facts may be cited in evidence of a decline in the 

 abundance of sponges: Grounds along the Florida coast that were 

 formerly very productive (and in fact yielded most of the supply) have 

 been completely abandoned, although the industry is not 50 years old. 

 The spongers have had to resort to deeper and deeper waters, as the 

 shoaler grounds have become depleted, until it is impracticable, with 

 the present methods, to extend their operations further. 



The average catch per vessel and per man is now much less than 

 formerly; and what in the past was considered an average yield for a 

 vessel is now an exceptionally good catch. The history of the sponge 

 fishery during the past few years records an extraordinary number of 

 trips that resulted in loss to the owners or equippers of sponge vessels. 

 Furthermore, the catch now consists of a large proportion of small 

 sponges, many being under the size sanctioned by law. 



The reason for the decline of the fishery is not obscure and may be 

 comprehended under a single bead — indiscriminate fishing. Chief 

 among the causes contributing to a decrease is the gathering of small 

 sponges. While an excellent State law of fifteen years' standing pro- 

 hibits the taking of sponges less than 4 inches in diameter across the 

 top, the law has always been practically a dead letter. Excessive 

 fishing has given the grounds no opportunity to recuperate from one 

 season to another, and has made the collection of undersized sponges a 

 necessity in order to fill out the cargoes. Almost from the beginning 

 of the fishery there has been a total disregard for the preservation of 

 the supply, and the present unsatisfactory conditions are the natural 

 consequence. 



Under proper restrictions there seems no reason to doubt that the 

 Florida sponge-grounds are capable of regularly yielding a large annual 

 catch without any danger of jeopardizing the supply. The area of the 

 grounds is so large (estimated at over 3,000 miles) and the growth of 

 sponges thereon is so rapid that the most ordinary precautions would 

 probably insure a permanent crop. The remedial measures suggested 

 for existing conditions are (1) the strict enforcement of the law as to 

 taking small sponges, and (2) the suspension of sponging on given 

 grounds during every second or third season. A careful survey of the 

 productive and depleted grounds is a great desideratum, and the Com- 

 mission has engaged to make such a survey as soou as practicable, 

 employing the steamer Fish Hawk for the purpose. 



MACKEREL INVESTIGATIONS. 



Among the appendices to the present report of the Commissioner is 

 a paper by Dr. J. Percy Moore upon the results of the investigations 

 and experiments conducted by him for this division in the summer of 

 1897 relative to the embryology, natural spawning, and artificial propa- 

 gation of the mackerel (Scomber scombrus). The investigations, which 

 were begun in June of the last fiscal year, were conducted at Woods 

 Hole, Massachusetts, and on board the Fish Hawk in Casco Bay, Maine, 

 and were completed in the latter part of August. 



