194 The Philippine Journal of Science 1917 



comb. It is a strong sponge and for ordinary use is very serv- 

 iceable. It holds water well, is elastic, and is very durable. 

 This sponge. is known only from the Sacol and the Zamboanga 

 beds, where it is abundant in waters of from 6 to 18 fathoms. 

 The experienced Greek spongers pronounced this an excellent 

 sponge and have exported several hundred kilograms; quota- 

 tions received were 5 pesos per kilogram. 



The Sulu Sea bath sponge. — The Sulu Sea bath sponge (Plate 

 II, fig. 2) is anotlfer variety of the wool sponge. It has an 

 extremely long, coarse fiber and is probably the most durable 

 sponge found in Philippine waters. I have been using sponges 

 of this kind for the last eight years and find them most satis- 

 factory. This sponge is only knov^m from the Sitanki beds. 

 It is little known to the American trade, and I am unable to 

 give any quotations of value. 



Philippine zimocca sponge. — There is considerable doubt as 

 to the classification of the Philippine zimocca sponge (Plate II, 

 fig. 5), which is unknown to the American trade. Some ex- 

 perts say that it is intermediate between the wool and the grass 

 sponges, while some experienced spongers say that it is most 

 nearly related to the European zimocca. It is very tough and 

 has a fine, closely knit fiber. It is usually flat and measures 

 from 15 to 20 centimeters in diameter. It is found on the Tawi 

 Tawi, the Sitanki, and the Siasi beds on rocky bottom and in 

 shallow water. It is not very abundant; the only quotations 

 received placed its value at from 6 to 10 pesos per kilogram. 



The following varieties of the grass sponge of commercial 

 value occur in Philippine waters: 



The common grass sponge. — The common grass sponge (Plate 

 II, fig. 6) is a soft-textured, moderately fragile, nicely shaped 

 sponge from 20 to 30 centimeters in diameter. The best grades 

 of this sponge are found in water of from 3 to 5 fathoms. It 

 is common on the reefs of practically all the sponge beds. The 

 best selected grades of this sponge are worth from 2 to 6 pesos 

 per kilogram. , 



The Philippine reef sponge, or glove sponge. — This is a va- 

 riety of grass sponge. It is a very soft and beautiful sponge, 

 but unfortunately it is fragile and, therefore, can be used only 

 a short time. It is. found in shallow water on almost all reefs 

 in the Sulu Archipelago. It is of little commercial value. 



The Philippine silk sponge. — This is a small variety of grass 

 sponge with a beautiful, soft, silky texture. It is usually from 

 10 to 15 centimeters in diameter and may be the young of the 



