File 2830/1914 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Sponge Fisheries. Sponge Exploration Syndicate.' [‎175v] (355/488)

At the sponge fishing grounds of Florida, the highest air temperature
during the two years 1895—6 reached 88'58 Fahr., the water temperature
on the same date being 86 * 58° Fahr. Probably the temperature on the
Bahrein Banks never attains so great a height as that recorded from the
Muscat coast where local conditions, such as encircling rocks, may have
contributed to the reaching of such a record as that given above.
Methods of Obtaining Sponges.
The methods of sponge fishing vary with the local traditions and circum
stances, the depth being one of the chief of these latter. Sponges are
obtained in four different ways :—
(1.) By naked divers who descend, with the aid of a heavy stone, to
depths up to 10 fathoms. The men can remain under from two to
three minutes, the last period being almost the outside limit of
endurance. The sponges are cut from their attachment and hastily
gathered into a basket, the diver then being hauled up to the
surface. [The Bahrein pearl fishers, who usually descend in about
10 fathoms, go down feet first, and remain under about two
minutes. They close the nostrils with a small clip resembling a
clothes-peg, to prevent the entry of water.]
(2.) By means of divers in diving dresses. Where capital is available,
the catch is greatly increased by employing diving dresses. A
diver in dress can remain under water up to depths of 10 fathoms
for a long period, but in greater depths of 20 fathoms he can only
stay under for a few minutes. Both in the Mediterranean and
West Indies the native population is usually hostile to the users of
diving dresses.
(3.) By means of forks with a very long stem or handle and two or three
prongs. This method is employed in Dalmatia and all over the West
Indies, and is available in depths of 5 to 8 fathoms, in clear water.
In the West Indies (Florida, Bahamas, &c.) a schooner-rigged
vessel of several tons will take several small dinghies on board, and
a crew, allowing two men to each dinghy. When a suitable reef
is reached the boats are put out. While one of the two men very
gently sculls the other inspects the bottom through a submarine
telescope or a pane of glass let into the bottom of a bucket. The
object of tins is to do away with the effect of surface ripples.
When the man sees the black sponge on the bottom he transfixes
it with the fork, which may be over 30 feet in length. Great skill
is required to operate successfully without damaging the sponge
too much.
(4.) By means of dredge nets usually made of camel’s hair, and fitted with
an iron frame at the mouth. The dredge is worked from a sailing
ship, and in considerable depths of from 50 to 70 fathoms, where
the other three methods would be unavailable. The dredge can be
used in lesser depths, but would be injurious to pearl oyster beds.
Would it be possible for a syndicate to collect sponges without at the
same time bringing up oysters or damaging their beds ?
The collecting of sponges on the Pearl Oyster Banks would be likely
to cause some damage at certain seasons, when the young oysters would