marine biological station at port erin. 165 



The Aquarium. 



During the first year's work (1892) at the new biological 

 station it was constantly felt to be an inconvenience to 

 have all the vessels of sea-water containing our stock of 

 animals permanently in the laboratory along with the 

 microscopes and dissecting instruments ; and moreover it 

 was found that work was frequently interrupted by the 

 arrival of visitors who though not naturalists were more 

 or less interested in marine biology, and to whom it was 

 certainly desirable in the interests both of the institution 

 and also of the diffusion of knowledge that we should show 

 whatever was possible of the interesting animals of the 

 neighbouring seas without interfering too much with the 

 progress of our investigations. Consequently the Com- 

 mittee became convinced of the necessity of having a 

 separate aquarium and tank house for the storage of living 

 marine animals and plants, for facilitating observations on 

 habits and life-histories, and for exhibition to the public. 



On consulting with our enterprising landlord, Mr. 

 Thomas Clague, of the Bellevue Hotel, we found that he 

 was willing to erect for us a small two-«storeyed building on 

 the beach alongside the biological station on a piece of 

 ground only separated from the laboratory door by the 

 flight of steps leading down to the shore (see PI. II). 

 Drawings were made of the necessary arrangement of 

 tanks, pipes, work-tables, &c., and from these Mr. George 

 Herdman, B.Sc, Edinburgh, kindly prepared for us the 

 plans from which the builders constructed the house. 

 This aquarium was commenced on February 6th and was 

 finished at the end of March. The slate and plate glass 

 tanks was made by Carter & Co., in Liverpool, were taken 

 apart and sent over in separate pieces, and were then put 

 together again under our own supervision in their perma- 

 nent positions in the wall of the building. 



