The Bureau of Fisheries 



205 



the experiments will demonstrate the 

 entire practicability of the artificial 

 feeding and fattening of oysters on a 

 commercial basis. 



4. Experiments in Sponge Culture. — 

 Still another interesting investigation 

 now being carried on in Florida has for 

 its object the discovery and develop- 



small bits, placed at close intervals 

 along the wire, soon heal and form an 

 organic attachment to it, and very soon 

 begin to grow. It is too soon to pre- 

 dict just what the results will be, but 

 the indications are so far very encour- 

 aging, and it is believed that the time 

 is not far distant when the sponge fish- 



Spongers at Work 



The only apparatus used is the sponge hook, a three-toothed curved hook attached to poles 

 of varying lengths, according to the depth of water in which the sponger is working, and the 

 sponge glass — a common water bucket with the bottom knocked out and a pane of window glass 

 substituted. The latter is used for seeing below the surface when the water is disturbed by ripples. 



nient of methods by which the valuable 

 sheepswool sponge may be cultivated 

 artificially. 



The method which promises the most 

 satisfactory results is that of using cut- 

 tings. Large sheepswool sponges are 

 cut into small pieces, which are fast- 

 ened to an insulated wire fixed in the 

 water, so that the sponges are supported 

 a few inches above the bottom. These 



eries of Florida will be vastly increased 

 in productiveness and value. 



Another class of studies carried on 

 by the division pertains to the parasitic 

 enemies and diseases of fishes. These 

 studies are in charge of Mr M. C. Marsh, 

 pathologist of the Bureau. Knowledge 

 of what are the principal diseases which 

 attack our food-fishes, what the causes 

 are, and how the attacks may be pre- 



