The Scottish Naturalist. 3 5 1 



kindly granted by the Marquis of Bute, who takes a deep in- 

 terest in the welfare of the company's projected scheme. It is 

 often asserted that an aquarium would not pay at Rothesay: 

 this remains, however, to be seen. It is true that the directors 

 are not at all sanguine in that direction. The chief aim and 

 desire of the directors and shareholders is to benefit the town, 

 by adding this other attraction, and thus, in a secondary way. 

 much good will be felt by the inhabitants ; and at the same 

 time visitors to the Island of Bute will have another source of 

 amusement, in studying the habits, movements, and method of 

 the feeding of the denizens of the deep. But although the 

 queen of Scottish watering places will, as a town, be undoubtedly 

 benefited, the directors have some idea that a good dividend 

 will be given. Rothesay doubtless is very dull during the 

 winter ; but summer compensates greatly by sending in swarms 

 of visitors, who are coming and going during at least four 

 months of the year. 



The proximity to Glasgow alone offers a peculiar induce- 

 ment to embark in such a scheme. The great population of 

 that city is always more or less during four months of the year 

 at least, travelling, and Bute is known as a favourite resort. 

 On a Glasgow fair week, it is estimated that no less than 20,000 

 people visit the Island, and there are numerous excursion parties 

 which visit it also at other times during the season. Rothesay 

 has besides a local population of nearly 9000. 



Now it may be reasonably expected that a very large propor- 

 tion of these would visit the Aquarium. Suppose that during 

 the '"fair" week 10,000 people visited it at 6d. per head, there is 

 ^250 at once. It is calculated that if the company can realise 

 an income of ^1000 per annum, a dividend something like 8 

 per cent, may be given. 



To build an Aquarium of any extent where there is not a 

 large travelling or great resident population, would certainly be 

 to throw away money — that is to say, if a dividend were ex- 

 pected. The success which has attended other Aquaria — such, 

 for example, as those of London, Brighton, Hamburg, Naples, 

 Vienna, etc. — leaves very little doubt that, where you have a 

 large travelling or a great resident population, they will invari- 

 ably pay as they have paid hitherto. The Crystal Palace 

 Aquarium and the Brighton one have never given less than 20 

 per cent. The last dividend given at Brighton was 30 per 

 cent. 



