to use, the numbers determined by grading were rounded off and ration- 

 alized to give the figures shown in the column headed "Demerits rec- 

 ommended to be taken as characteristic." 



Table 3, 



- Average number of demerits characteristic of 

 each grade of Rock Island Sheepswool sponge 



Grade 



Average demerits 

 found by grading 



Demerits recom- 

 mended to be taken 

 as characteristic 



Recommended mid- 

 point to next 

 lower grade 



Forms 



Number 



Number 



Number 



No. 1 

 No. 2 

 No. 3 



U9.5 

 98.0 

 U32 



50 

 100 



U25 



75 



260 

 5U5 



Cuts 









No. 1 

 No. 2 

 No. 3 



7U.2 

 1U2 



U72 



75 

 lUo 



U65 



105 

 300 

 565 



Forms and Cuts 



No. k 



663 



665 



765 



The following notes were taken during the determination of the 

 values given in table 3» 



1. Some faults seldom occur in Rock Island sponges, and the num- 

 ber of demerits rarely approaches the maximum number that is assign- 

 able. To omit these infrequently occuring faults or to lower the 

 maximum assignable number of demerits, however, might encourage the 

 offering of sponges inferior in these points in the belief that the 

 points are not important. It is therefore recommended that the faults 

 and the number of demerits be retained as listed in table 1. Buyers 

 are reminded thereby of faults not present in the sponges and accord- 

 ingly have greater appreciation of the sponges of high quality. 



2. A feathery outside structure or "Inshore" type of surface 

 often is accompanied by dirt and weak inside structure. 



3. Gurry usually is accompanied by odor. The number of demerits 

 for this fault seems consistently to be higher for sponges from some 

 suppliers than from others* 



L, A number of suppliers preferred to submit mixtures, such as 

 "mixed 1 and 2 Cuts," but these were regraded for the purpose of the 

 present work. Sponges of grade No. h> however, are believed logically 

 to be kept as "mixed Forms and Cuts." 



28 



