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 FARMING UNDER THE SEA

HOW THE SPONGE CROP IS HARVESTED

"When the vessel reaches the grounds, the men go out in boats, one man leaning over the sea bottom with a water glass. When a sponge is seen, it is secured with a kind of steel fork on a slender pole." The New Student's Reference Work.

DO YOU WONDER IT WAS MISTAKEN FOR SPUN GLASS?

"One kind of sponge looks lie a beautiful vase of spun glass. When first brought to Europe they were not though to be sponges at all, but vases made by skill-ful workes in glass."

FROM SEA BOTTOM TO THE MARKET

Below on the left a greek sponge gatherer is going down in a diving suit off the Florida Coast. After being gathered, sponges are put into those wicker pens where the tide washes them, but cannot wash them away.

Below, to the right, is a sponge market where the sponges are graded and offered for sale.