198 The Philippine Journal of Science im 



fish in 20 or 30 feet of water, trim their sponges with shears until they 

 are smooth all around, sort them into bales in accordance with size, packing 

 goods about as follows: 1 to 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 10, 10 to 16 and 16 to 20 pieces to 

 the pound and separate the different grades and varieties, we would then 

 be able to handle them to much better advantage. Labor is quite an item 

 on these goods over her« but of course it would not amount to so much there. 



The whole perfect sponge is called a "form," those with crab 

 holes and other imperfections are called "seconds," while cut 

 pieces are known as "cuts." The sizes are named from the 

 number of pieces required to make up a pound, being "ones, twos, 

 2-3, 3-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, 12-16, 16-20." Rings through 

 which the sponges are passed are sometimes used to determine 

 the exact sizes. 



I would advise the following method in grading sponges, which 

 is employed in the sponge fisheries of the United States : Sort 

 as to kinds — these may be sheep's-wool, honeycomb wool, zimocca, 

 Sulu Sea bath, grass, or elephant's-ear — and pack according to 

 sizes. Select a reliable house to handle the goods in the American 

 or foreign markets. There has been much complaint among the 

 Philippine spongers that their goods are not handled in a satis- 

 factory manner by American sponge houses, but it can scarcely 

 be expected that an American sponge house with a large stock 

 of Florida and Bahama sponges on hand will exert much effort 

 in marketing Philippine sponges, unless there is some special 

 reason for such exertion. 



RECENT SPONGING ACTIVITY 



During an inspection trip to the southern islands in December, 

 1915, considerable new information regarding the Philippine 

 sponge fisheries was secured. 



The Philippine Sponge Company had entered the field and 

 expended about 20,000 pesos on a plant for the proper cleaning, 

 curing, and storing of sponges, and had shipped 2,000 kilograms 

 of sponges to the United States market— chiefly sheep's-wool. 



A company under the direction of Mr. Pipinos, an experienced 

 sponger, was operating successfully with diving outfits in the 

 waters near Zamboanga. In waters of from 10 to 14 fathoms 

 it secured about 1,800 kilograms of an excellent grade of honey- 

 comb and elephant's-ear sponges. Several individuals were en- 

 gaged in gathering from the reefs quantities of shallow-water 

 sponges of no great value. 



At the request of Governor Carpenter, a bill was drafted for 

 the proper regulation and control of the sponge fisheries. This 

 act was passed and became effective February 5, 1916. 



