SPONGING FOR A LIVING Part 2
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Photographed off the coast of Andros Island, Bahamas Group.” “The sponge is known to all the world for its remarkable absorbing power, so let’s imitate the sponge and absorb a few things of interest about this unfamiliar industry.” Native boys holding large sponges. “Out there beneath the surface of the warm tropical sea are the sponges, clinging grimly to their fond homes as if anticipating this gathering of the sponge fisher’s fleet.” Views of sponge boats in port - men loading sacks onto boats - natives walking off boats - men and women sitting on deck of boat - boats under sail out of harbor. “Like a mother with her brood of little ducklings, are the sailboat and the small dories that operate from her.” Men in dories moving away from sponge boat, rough seas. “Glass bottom buckets enable the spongers to see clearly their progress in loosening the sponge with the long, three pronged, poles used for that purpose.” Men in dories using poles to haul up sponges, bucket in water beside dory. “Except in the larval stage the sponge permanently attaches itself to a piece of coral or shell. The average 6 inch sponge is about 4 years old.” Person holding sponges attached to coral. “After a load of sponges has been gathered they are placed on the deck of the main ship and left there until the slimy matter is all drained off.” Men in dories poling back to main ship - view of main ship. “When the fishing is completed the sailboats return to the base of operation and the dead sponges are placed in pens or kraals. Here they are left for about one week to wash.” Boats returning to port - three natives sitting on shore - men poling dories into backwater area, placing sponges into kraals - man rinsing sponges in water. “After all the living matter has been removed the sponges are dried, cleansed by hand, sorted according to kinds and arranged in piles.” Natives placing sponges in bottom of dories - beating sponges in water with sticks - sponges arranged in piles on beach - man unloading barrel of sponges on shore, others watching. “‘Sponging for a living is a lonesome old job unless the spongers are all ashore,’ said the watchman of the land of sponges.” Man sitting in front of grass hut - group of natives standing and talking - two men wrestling, group watching. “The sponges are now ready for market. The buyers assemble and proceed from pile to pile, bidding on each separately. The highest bidder takes the lot.” Natives unloading sponges from baskets - men walking among piles of sponges. “The buyers then forward the newly purchased supply to their respective packing and warehouses.” Men loading baskets of sponges into high-sided donkey-drawn cart - women sitting amid piles of sponges. “To remove the irregular and torn parts, with minimum waste, requires the work of expert ‘clippers.’” Women sitting among piles of sponges, clipping. “Propagating a sponge on a cement disc. In eighteen months the seed becomes 25 times its original size.” Man holding small sponge on disc - man holding larger sponge on disc - larger sponge - huge sponge. “Sponges of the same size and quality are baled almost dry under a pressure of from 15 to 60 pounds. Two thirds of the world’s supply in weight, come from America.” Large bale of sponges being wrapped - bales being stacked in warehouse. “Sponging for a living.” Men in garage cleaning automobiles - man with bucket and sponge washing tire and wheel of car - man dumping bucket of water over horse in field, wagons and people in background - man sponging off horse. “The End.” “Ford Educational Library.” [1921]
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