1909- Proceedings of I fish Societies^ 73 



of the staff was decided 011. The staff had passed through a particularly 

 strenuous time, and it was felt that the keepers and labourers deserved 

 to be placed on a better footing. A considerable increase in their wages 

 was therefore sanctioned by the Council. 



It has long ago been the intention to revive the old custom of deliver- 

 ing lectures in the Gardens. Yet, on reconsidering the proposal, the 

 Council Avere of opinion that the gain to the vSociety might be even 

 greater if the lectures could take place in a more central building and 

 were illustrated by lantern slides. It was finally agreed, with the kind 

 permission of the Council of the Royal Dublin Society, to hold them in 

 Leinster House, and Professor Carpenter delivered the first of the series. 

 To judge from the number alone who attended — there were about 600 

 present— the first lecture was a great success. It is hoped that Canon 

 Carmichael will give the next lecture. 



Baud performances were again tried in the Gardens on Saturdays 

 during the month of August. The Dublin Tramways Company not onl}' 

 gave facilities for carrying the band free of charge to and from the 

 Gardens, but also contributed handsomely towards the cost of the per- 

 formances. 



The new Seal enclosure was formalh- opened in April for the Easter 

 holidays. Two Seals were transferred to it, and later on two Californian 

 Sea-lions, which had, meanwhile, been bought. Finall}-, after some 

 slight structural alterations had been completed in one of the partitions, 

 the young Otters were also housed there. The Society now possesses 

 therefore, a very attractive collection of aquatic carnivora. 



It had been proposed to rebuild the old part of the Lion-house during 

 the past year, the roof of the building having been found to be beyond 

 repair, but it was considered advisable to defer these building opera- 

 tions. The plans were verv carefully considered, and various improve- 

 ments were devised in the cages and the lighting and heating arrange- 

 ments. The estimated cost of the new building, which will be commenced 

 next April, will be about ^3,000. 



A division of the Goat enclosure is now kept entirel}- for the Vultures, 

 which have been pmioued. A suitable shelter has been provided for 

 them on the top of the rockery. A shed for the young Rheas was 

 erected, and the water-pipes in the garden have been overhauled, involv- 

 ing an expenditure of over £.'^0. A new partition was fouud desirable 

 and has been constructed in the large outdoor Lion-den. Repairs in the 

 aquarium, tanks, bird cages, concreting the outdoor carnivora dens, as 

 well as extensive re-paintingj especially of the wire-work, also entailed 

 considerable expense. 



The refreshment department has been carried on with continued 

 success during the year, and with an increase in the gross receipts of 

 about ^'100. Lunches of a more substantial nature than were hitherto 

 provided are now to be obtained, and Members of the Society who have 

 the privilege of using the Members' Room for entertaining their friends 

 have irequentl}' availed themselves of this opportunity in showing the 

 Gardens to visitors. 



