THE OCEAN WORLD. 
1 LO 
such destruction that their reproduction will soon cease to he equal to 
the demand. 
In order to prevent this troublesome result, it is very desirable 
that the several species of sponges should be naturalized on the French 
and Algerian coast, and the cultivation and reproduction of the zoophyte 
protected. For this purpose, the rocky coasts of the Mediterranean, 
from Cape Cruz to Nice, and round the islands of Corsica and Hyeres, in 
the Algerian waters, and even in some of the salt lakes of the departments 
near the Mediterranean, might be utilized. The whole of the Italian 
littoral would also be available under the new regime for this purpose- 
M. Lamiral considered that the composition of the water of the 
Mediterranean being thought the same on the coasts of France, of 
Algeria, and on the Syrian coast, that the difference of temperature 
between the two latitudes — especially at the depth where the sponges 
flourish most — would not interfere with the existence of these robust 
zoophytes, and that their acclimatization on the coasts of France and 
Algeria would be a certain success. Ho remarked, moreover, that the 
more the sponges advanced towards the north, the finer and compactor 
their tissues became ; and he argued from this fact, that a considerable 
improvement in the quality would result from the experiment. 
The only difficulty, then, would consist in the transplanting sponges 
from Syrian waters to the coasts of France and Algeria, A submarine 
boat, such as M. Lamiral makes use of for operations conducted in 
deep water, would, according to this naturalist, give every facility 
for collecting sponges for the purpose. This boat can descend to 
great depths, and its crew can dwell there a considerable time, for 
it is continually fed with fresh air from above, which is conveyed by an 
air-pump and tube into the interior of the boat, so that the men could 
readily select such individuals as were suited for acclimatizing ; re- 
moving the blocks of rock along with them, either by placing them in 
cases pierced with holes, or by towing them to their new abode- 
Everything seems to promise that in the following year the zoophytes 
would begin to multiply in their new country. 
The larvae might also be collected in the months of April and May, 
as they separate from the parent sponge, and be transplanted to 
favourable localities. At the end of three years, when these true sub- 
marine fields would be ripe for harvesting, they could be put in train 
for methodical collection by means of diving boats. 
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