THE PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION. 3138 
moat valuable grade comes from the Florida Keys, ranks next to the sheepswool 
in commercial importance. The average wholesale price is 60 cents to $1 per pound. 
It is widely used for household purposes, and by painters, calciminers, wood work- 
ers, and others for polishing and scraping. The velvet or boat sponge is of superior 
grade, with a very soft texture, and is employed for the same purposes as the sheeps- 
wool. It is not abundant, and brings about $1.25 a pound. The grass and glove 
sponges are very abundant, but, being of inferior quality, they are only sparingly 
used for the toilet. They are, however, extensively employed in livery stables, for 
applying enamel and stiffening to fabrics, for absorbing oil in condensing tanks, and 
for many other purposes. The glove sponges are worth only 15 cents a pound, and 
the grass 30 or 35 cents, wholesale. 
The artificial bleaching of sponges is a common practice and improves their 
appearance, but unless very judiciously done is likely to impair their durability. 
Bleached sponges of all the standard grades are exhibited in the collection. 
391. Natural sponges from Florida: 
Showing their condition and appearance when first taken from the water. The 
meshes are filled with a pulpy mass, and the sponge is covered externally with a 
skin perforated for the entrance and escape of the water currents. 
392. Sheepswool sponges from Gulf of Mexico: 
The sheepswool is the best grade of sponge, and exceeds in value all other kinds 
combined. The best quality comes from the grounds off the northern part of the 
west coast of Florida. The present average wholesale price to the fishermen is about 
$2.75 per pound. This is the leading toilet sponge, and is also employed for many 
other domestic and special purposes. 
393. Sheepswool sponges from Florida Keys: 
The sheepswool is the best grade of sponge, and exceeds in value all other kinds 
combined. The present average wholesale price received by the fishermen is $2.50 
per pound. This sponge is extensively used for a great variety of dqnestic and other 
purposes, and is the leading bath sponge. 
394. Glove sponges from Florida Keys: 
The cheapest grade of commercial sponge, valued at only 15 cents a pound whole- 
sale. It has a limited use for domestic and other purposes. 
395. Grass sponges from Gulf of Mexico: 
A cheap sponge, reaching a large size, and growing in great abundance on parts of 
the Gulf coast; it is used for the toilet and for numerous domestic and other purposes. 
The average wholesale selling price to the fishermen is 35 cents per pound. 
396. Grass sponges jrom Florida Keys: 
This is a cheap grade of sponge growing in great abundance in Florida waters. It 
is sparingly used for the toilet, and is also employed in livery stables, in condensing 
tanks to take up oil, for applying enamel and stiffening to fabrics, and a large variety 
of other purposes. Average wholesale price to fishermen, 30 cents per pound. 
397. Wire or bastard sheepswool sponges from Florida Keys: 
A very coarse, stiff sponge of little commercial value and very limited usefulness. 
398. Velvet or boat sponges, artificially bleached. 
399. Grass sponges, artificially bleached. 
400. Glove sponges, artificially bleached. 
401. Yellow sponges from Florida Keys: 
A valuable species, much used for domestic purposes and by woodworkers, painters, 
and other artisans. The average wholesale price when first landed from the sponge 
grounds is $1 per pound. The yellow sponges from the Florida Keys are superior 
to those from grounds in the Gulf of Mexico. 
403. Velvet or boat sponges from Florida Keys: 
A superior grade of sponge, with very soft texture. Valued at about $1.25 per 
pound, wholesale, at the local sponge markets. Used for toilet and other domestic 
purposes. 
404. Yellow sponges from Gulf of Mexico: 
An important species, extensively used for domestic purposes and for scraping 
and polishing woods and walls by painters, calciminers, woodworkers, etc. The 
average wholesale price is about 60 cents per pound to the fishermen. 
