194 ^^ Commercial Products of the Sea. 



France was 2,000,000 kilogrammes, of the value of 

 10,600,000 francs (;£'424,ooo). The consumption is there- 

 fore about 150,000 kilogrammes per annum. There was 

 imported into France in 1875 246,666 kilogrammes of 



Fig. 9. 



Silicious sponges, i. Euplectella asfergillum ; 2. Holtenia carjientetia. 



sponge, of which 93,324 kilogrammes were re-exported. 

 In 1876 the imports reached 257,878 kilogrammes, and the 

 exports were 89,600 kilogrammes. 



Silicious Sponges. — Sponges are not confined to recent 



