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Story
March 11, 1906
Daily Press
Newport News, Virginia
What is this article about?
Greek sponge divers, requiring experience, skill, and hardihood, use triangular stones and ropes to descend 10-35 fathoms, harvest sponges from deep-sea rock ledges, and signal for retrieval.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Sponge Fishing.
The Greeks are considered the principal sponge fishers, and it takes much experience, skill and hardihood to qualify a man for a first class place among sponge divers. Many of the most valuable specimens are found at a depth varying from ten to thirty-five fathoms. To aid in the descent the divers make use of a triangular stone with a hole in one corner, through which a rope is spliced. On reaching the deep sea gardens, where the rock ledges are clothed with marine growths, the diver, retaining a bold on his rope, dexterously breaks away the holdfast of the sponges and places them under his arm until a sufficient load has been gleaned, when a pull on the rope signals his companions above that he is ready to ascend, and he is then hauled to the surface, bearing his ocean treasures.
The Greeks are considered the principal sponge fishers, and it takes much experience, skill and hardihood to qualify a man for a first class place among sponge divers. Many of the most valuable specimens are found at a depth varying from ten to thirty-five fathoms. To aid in the descent the divers make use of a triangular stone with a hole in one corner, through which a rope is spliced. On reaching the deep sea gardens, where the rock ledges are clothed with marine growths, the diver, retaining a bold on his rope, dexterously breaks away the holdfast of the sponges and places them under his arm until a sufficient load has been gleaned, when a pull on the rope signals his companions above that he is ready to ascend, and he is then hauled to the surface, bearing his ocean treasures.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Adventure
What themes does it cover?
Exploration
Bravery Heroism
What keywords are associated?
Sponge Fishing
Greek Divers
Deep Sea Descent
Diving Technique
Marine Harvesting
What entities or persons were involved?
Greeks
Sponge Divers
Where did it happen?
Deep Sea Gardens
Story Details
Key Persons
Greeks
Sponge Divers
Location
Deep Sea Gardens
Story Details
Greeks are principal sponge fishers requiring experience, skill, and hardihood. Divers descend 10-35 fathoms using triangular stones and ropes to harvest sponges from rock ledges clothed in marine growths, collecting under arm until signaling for ascent.