22 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



THE SPONGE FISHERY IN CUBA 



"The sponge fishery is one of the impor- 

 tant industries of the Cuban coast, and 

 the headquarters for this work is at Bata- 

 bano, a quaint Httle seafort about thirty 

 miles from Havana," writes Arthur D. 

 Marston in the Lewiston (Me.) Journal. 

 "The native population is not as much in 

 evidence here as the Italian and Greek, 

 as these are the most expert in gather- 

 ing sponges. The Carribean Sea at this 

 place is noted for its crystal-like clear- 

 ness, and the most wonderful submarine 

 landscapes can be seen at a depth of more 

 than 75 feet. It is among these twilight 

 depths of sunken coral reefs that the 

 world's supply of sponges are mostly 

 taken, and the methods are as unique as 

 they are fascinating. 



"The sponge taken here is of three 

 kinds, and these are called sheep's wool, 

 grass and glove . varieties. The first-named 

 is the most valuable on account of its fine 

 texture and commands a much higher 

 price. The grass sponge is more abund- 

 ant, while the glove variety is the most 

 inferior and least valued. 



"In the port of Batabano there are about 

 300 vessels of all sizes engaged in the 

 sponge industry, and the average trip re- 

 quires about one week. The sponges are 

 found in from 10 to 40 feet of water and 



are clinging to the coral rocks. There 

 are different methods in taking them, but 

 diving is perhaps most practiced. Slender 

 poles with hooks on the ends are also 

 used, but this is not as popular with the 

 gatherers, who are all expert divers. The 

 clearness of the water enables the sponges 

 to be seen very readily, and the moment 

 a cluster is detected, overboard goes the 

 diver and a moment later reappears upon 

 the surface with an armful of sponges. 

 Immediately after the boat locates a 

 sponge bed a craal is constructed. This 

 is a sort of pen made by interweaving 

 stakes, and into this the sponges are 

 placed as fast as the boat is loaded. 

 When first taken the sponge is an animal 

 and must be cured as fish are cured, only 

 in a different manner. When taken to 

 port they are buried in the sand for a 

 time until all the animal matter is de- 

 composed. They are then placed in wicker 

 cages and exposed to the action of the 

 tides, after which they are strung on ropes 

 and spread out to dry in the open air. 

 This ends the process so far as the fisher- 

 men are concerned, and the-" are at once 

 packed into bales and disposed of at pub- 

 lic auction. There is a regular sponge 

 market where the entire catch of the fleet 

 is placed, and, after being examined by 



On board a sponge-fishing sloop. Loading a rowboat with sponges from the tank of the vessel. 



