"Any bottom that's hard enough to keep the sponge from being covered up, Mr. Murren. Soft sand will wash, mud will ooze up, and rank marine grass or seaweed will smother the young cells. But any hard bottom in warm salt water with a current is good for sponges."
"I see," was the rejoinder. "As you say, the situation is not unlike farming. You can either farm cultivated sponge land or plant uncultivated land."
"You can get land suitable for sponges for almost nothing, I suppose," Colin said, "and then if you had a small sponge ground you could plant a larger area from it."
"What do you think of this ground?"
The boy hesitated.
"I hardly think I know enough about it to say, Mr. Murren," he said; "you ought to get an expert."
"I'll get an expert before I pay cash," was the prompt answer, "but I want to know what you think."
"Well, then, sir," Colin answered, "I think it's good ground, but not good enough."
"Ah got a betteh one than this hyeh, boss," put in the boatman, "it's mah brotheh's, but he might be willin' to sell. Costs mo' than mine, though."