It is what is known as a wool sponge, which is the finest quality known among spongers. It is in form perfectly round, arched like an immense fruit cake, and is six feet in circumference and two feet in diameter in every direction. When taken from the water it weighed between eighty and ninety pounds, and the fortunate man who captured it had a hard time landing it in his dory. Now that it has dried out and been relieved of all excrescences it weighs about twelve pounds.

This article has a little bonus: a humorous musing on why garlic is always referred to as “he.” Because everyone refers to their garlic as “he,” right?

WORLD’S BIGGEST SPONGE FOUND IN THE BAHAMAS (PDF)

From April 3, 1910