230 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Grass sponges are of relatively inferior quality, although largely consumed for 
special purposes. They are found in all parts of the sponge region, and are probably 
the most abundant of the Florida sponges, the annual yield not being pioportional to 
the abundance. Large cargoes are obtained on the Eock Island, Anclote, and Key 
grounds. The Anclote region of late has produced the largest part of the catch, and 
the sponges there are of relatively good quality. 
The recent increase in the production of grass sponges, especially from grounds 
in the Gulf of Mexico, has been noteworthy, as shown by the preceding table. In 
1895 grass sponges constituted less than 7 per cent of the total yield; in 1896 the out- 
put rose to 19 per cent, and in 1897 was nearly 39 per cent. This utilization of larger 
quantities of a relatively cheap sponge is a strong indication of the decrease in the 
supply of the best quality of sponges. 
THE YELLOW SPONGE. 
This ranks next to the sheepswool in quality. It corresponds with the Zimocca 
sponge of the Mediterranean. The dealers classify the “hard head” sponge in this 
grade — a form having a darker color, harder texture, and less value than the yellow 
proper. The distribution of the yellow sponge is coextensive with that of the sheeps- 
wool, both growing together among the keys and on the west coast of Florida. The 
yellow sponge is most commonly found on rocky bottom, at depths of a few feet to 
over 30 feet. Those taken for market are from 4 to 10 inches in diameter, 6 to 8 inches 
being the average. 
The yellow sponge is very abundant, but less so than formerly, especially among 
the keys, whence most of the supply comes, and where the grounds, being more acces- 
sible, are more assiduously fished. The key sponges are of much finer quality than 
those from the “bay grounds,” being softer in texture and more durable. The 
grounds about Matecumbe Key yield an especially good grade of yellow sponge, 
characterized by a rich yellow color, regular shape, and superior quality. Biscayne 
Bay and other grounds on the east coast also produce a fine class of yellow sponges. 
This species ranks next to sheepswool in the commercial scale, although it com- 
mands a less price per pound than the velvet sponge. In the aggregate the value of 
the catch of yellow sponges was formerly more than that of all the remaining grades 
except the sheepswool, but of late the grass sponge has surpassed the yellow in this 
respect. The average price received by sponge fishermen is about 40 cents a pound. 
THE GLOVE SPONGE. 
This is the least valuable of our commercial sponges. Its fibers have a tendency 
to become brittle with age, it lacks elasticity, and it has very little market value. The 
skeleton is dense and the surface is much smoother than in the other sponges. It 
does not attain a large size, not often exceeding 8 inches in diameter and averaging- 
less than 5 or 6 inches. 
It is a singular and suggestive fact that this, the very poorest of our sponges, is of 
the same species as the very finest and best of the Mediterranean sponges, namely, 
the Levant toilet sponges and the Turkish cup sponges; even some of these, however, 
are of inferior quality. The fact is thus strikingly emphasized that the quality of 
sponges is to a considerable extent independent of their specific characters and 
depends on physical conditions. 
