Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#0099CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><U>TARPON SPRINGS SPONGE DOCKS</U></B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#99CCCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thames Street at Broadway Fells Point"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Skipjacks at Cambridge"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" 16 x 20 Pen Ink"><U><B><IMG SRC="00d0d1d0.gif" border=0 width="13" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" 16 x 20 Pen Ink"><U><B>Return to 16" x 20" pen and ink page</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div>   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT>           </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Sponge fishing has been both an industry and a tradition on the west coast of Florida since John Cocoris, a sponge dealer, introduced diving equipment and a crew of experienced divers from Greece over 80 years ago.  Prior to that time the harvest was limited to shallow water, snagging sponges with hooks from "hooker” or “hook” boats.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The characteristic hull design of a Tarpon Springs sponge boat is identical to that of the traditional Greek boats that continue to fish along the Aegean seacoast to this day.  Even the broad stem, extending well above the sheer line contains the distinctive semi-circular cutout on the after edge that is typical of the boats of the Greek Islands.  The folding ladder and air tanks underscore her intended purpose.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ranging 35 to 45 feet in length, and, carrying names like </B><B>Magdalene</B><B>, </B><B>Kalymnos</B><B>, </B><B>Eleni</B><B>, </B><B>Niki</B><B>, and </B><B>Eleza</B><B>, the Tarpon Springs sponge boats represent a contemporary example of a historic European design that has very significantly influenced American boat-building during this century. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The 71 foot </B><B>Jolly Roger</B><B> built in 1967 in North Carolina reflects the direct influence of Greek design in her full bodied hull, sweeping sheer and high bow.  The Gulf shrimper (also referred to as the “Florida” shrimper) of today evolved from this Greek influence to become a true American boat type indigenous to the South Atlantic, Florida and Gulf coasts commonly used for a wide variety of commercial fishing.  The location of the pilot house is significant in contrast with the older Alabama and Mississippi Gulf coast shrimp boats where the European influence placing of the cabin aft remains common.</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>