The Sponge Fishery of the Bahamas. 177 



business will have to withdraw, as even now it hardly com- 

 pensates them for their labour. 



The rapid strides made in sponging within the Bahamas 

 group appears almost incredible. It only commenced in 

 1841. The early stages of the trade a quarter of a cen 

 tury ago, and its progress since, are shown in the following 

 statistics : — 



About half the quantity collected is shipped to the United 

 States, and half to England. 



Before sponges pass into commerce they are trampled 

 on, pressed, washed a great many times in salt and fresh 

 water frequently changed, until the gelatinous mucus with 

 which they are covered has disappeared. They are then 

 passed through boiling water, with the view of ridding them, 

 if possible, of the peculiar smell arising from the animal 

 matter attached to the fibrous tissues. 



To bleach sponges, they are steeped in a dilute solution 

 of sulphuric acid of I to i -03 degrees, and they are left to 

 steep five or six days, taking care to press them from time to 



