THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Feb. 1, 1865. 



318 ON THE SPONGE FISHEKT OF 



quarter are known in commerce by the names of the respective coasts 

 where they dive for them. 



I show in the following statement the spots where the inhabitants 

 of the islands in the Ottoman Archipelago dive for sponges, the five 

 categories into which the sponges can be divided, and the difference 

 which exists between these. 



The following is a statement of the spots where the inhabitants of 

 the islands in the Ottoman Archipelago dive for sponges. These 

 sponges may be divided into five categories, besides the ordinary classi- 

 fication of fine, common, and coarse : — 



1. Bengazi (comprising the sponges fished in the Gulf of Sidra, 

 Tripoli). Few fine sponges are fished in this Gulf. They are dark- 

 coloured, and much hollowed in the centre. The common and coarse 

 sponges, although of a rather darkish colour, are considered, in con- 

 sequence of their nice forms, to be the best after the Mandruha. 



2. Mandruha (comprising the sponges fished between Egypt and 

 Cape Ras Sem). All the sponges from these coasts are of a beautiful 

 colour, and mostly of nice forms. 



3. Syria (comprising the sponges fished from Egypt as far as Alex- 

 andretta). The sponges fished between Tripoli and Alexandretta are 

 inferior to those found between Tripoli and Egypt. The third category 

 of fine sponges comprises also good sponges, but small. 



4. Caramania (comprising the sponges fished from Alexandretta as 

 far as Castel Rosso). All the sponges from these coasts are considered 

 to be of a very inferior quality, in consequence of their being reddish 

 towards the root. This colour is probably owing to the nature of the 

 rock on which they grow. 



5. Cyprus. The sponges fished on the north side of this island, 

 both fine and common, are comprised in the second categories, being 

 superior in quality to those fished on the south coasts. The common 

 sponges found in this last spot are considered as the worst of all sponges 

 known, being almost rotten. There are no coarse sponges on the coasts 

 of this nor on those of any other island. 



6. Crete. The sponges fished on the south coasts of this island are, 

 on the contrary, good, and those on the north bad. Those from the 

 first spot are comprised in the second categories. 



7. Rhodes, Stampalia (Turkish Island), Fareglia, Levitha (Greek 

 Islands), Amorgo, on the coast of Anatolia, near the Seven Capes. 

 Although finer, perhaps, than those of Mandruha, they are, however, 

 placed in the same category, as they contain less sponges of good forms. 

 Few of the common sponges have fine spaces ; they are placed in the 

 second category, and the remainder in the fourth. 



S. Other Turkish islands in the Archipelago. The fine sponges 

 obtained here, owing to more irregularity in their forms, are considered 

 as inferior in quality to those fished in the preceding islands. Amongst 

 the common there are more of nice forms than in the former. 



