The Florida Fisheries

The returns 'of the Florida sponge fisüeriee antonnl Co from ono hundred to or.o hundred nnd lifiy thousaod pounda iinnually, furnishing employment to lüuny men and boats. ÏUe sponge is gathercd by inea&S of a long pole, with two and sometimos threo bookfl upon tho end. This sthrustdown into tuo sponge, whicli can be distinctly seen in the olear water at the depth of thirty foet. As tho fisherman mast sce tho Rponga he can sucoessfully work only m olear and smooth water. Thoy obvíate tho roughnosa by throwing upon the surfaoe oü made from tho sharks tha abound in these waters, or by a contrivance made of a pane of gltisg set into a bux ot basket ; this thcy placo on tho surfaco and uso as a s y glftss. Tlm largo 8ohooner8 come lo anchor and send out small boats to ilsh, but when the wind is not too strong the smaii CTftft sail I around, with a man en the fore-part on the out tbr the sponge; they also have thfiir small bo&is, The sponge, af ter it is gathored, Ls allowed to ruiain in .11 for two or tbree daya to die The gelatinouj matter th.it is in tliem decays, and they aro veiy offénsive at this stugo. Xhey aio then placed in pens (made by driving polos into the water) near the shoro to wasb ; thcre they remain a week and are then ready to be bleached in tho sun, cut into shapo, and baled for the ïuarket. Thero are five kinds atUered in these wators. Tho ïuost valuablo is oalled the sheep's wopl, i'or jrhich the ühbermen get oné dollar a pound whon clenned and dry. TUen tht-ro are the Voat and yollow spong.os. Of the former not muoh is found. For these t-!iey get tweotv-five cents a pound. Bosides these therc is the glove sponge, wbich ranks about the s.une as the cominon grass sponge, wbich only briaga tiieia tes cents a pound. -