PRODUCTS FROM THE SEA
357”
obtained those of the Mediterranean are of - the best quality.
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Some of the nest sponge beds in the world lie in Egyptian
territorial waters along the North African coast, stretching
west from Alexandria for a distance of 300 miles to
”There are three main species lof sponges shed in the
Mediterranean, the Honèy-comb, the Turkey—cup (Plate
12 5), and the Zimocca.
Of these the Turkey-cup is the
softest in texture.
There is also another sponge known
as the Elephant’s-ear sponge, on account of its shape.
The Florida sponges are on the whole of a coarser texture
than the Mediterranean sponges.
There are several kinds
‘
known as Sheep’s wool, Yellow, Velvet, Grass and
sponges.
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Most of the sponges are shed by divers who are most
skilled in the Mediterranean where the sponges on the
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whole grow in deeper water.
The sponges may be collected
either by men in diving dress—machine divers, or by naked
divers.
The naked divers of theÆgean are unsurpassed
.
for their powers of endurance, and have spread from their
own islands to sh the north coast of Africa, the central
Mediterranean, and some even to the sponge beds in
Florida.
They sh, in Egyptian waters, chiey in 'depths
of 12 to 37 fathoms, while; they have.been known to go'as
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deep as 240 and 250 feet. '
They generally stay doanor
about two minutes, though the more expert will remain
under water for four minutes.
The diver plunges into the
water grasping in _his hand a marble slab, thirty lbs. in
weight, which quickly takes him to the bottom.
T0 a ring
onhis arm is attached his life line.
At a given-signal he is
hauled up by this as
possible by two leather—
_
gloved men, “leaving his marble slab to be pulled up
'
'separately by another rope. _
,
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Ï— 7
'
,
The living sponge is black and slimy' in appearance”
owing to the living tissues which cover the Skeleton. In
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