Page:St. Nicholas, vol. 40.1 (1912-1913).djvu/659

Rh kicked within reach of the hands, as the wader stood shoulder deep in the water. Sponges at a greater depth are now taken by long pole-hooks operated from a small boat, a water-glass being used to find them on the bottom. This is simply a pane of glass fixed in the bottom of an ordinary wooden bucket. It cannot be successfully used when the water is turbid, or of a greater depth than about fifty feet.

Diving is another interesting method of procuring sponges. The depth to which professional divers wearing the diving-dress, or submarine armor, as it is called, usually descend does not  exceed 150 feet, although they sometimes stay down for two hours. Air is pumped down to them through the air-hose, and keeps their suits puffed out, the oversupply escaping from their rubber wristbands, and rising in bubbles to the surface. To change the air within the head-piece, or helmet, the diver presses his head back against a valve, which allows the air within the helmet to escape and fresh air to enter.

In the cases where the divers do not use the armor, they carry with them a large, flat stone to aid them in their descent, and a string attached to this is held in the hand of an attendant in the boat above. When the bottom is reached, the diver drops the stone, but clings to the rope, by which he signals if help is needed. These divers usually remain under water for not more than two minutes, although experts have stayed under for four and even for five minutes.



,, , and , on the Florida coast, are the principal places in this country where experiments in sponge culture have been made. The various methods are as follows: “seed” sponges are cut into small pieces, and, after having been