REPORT OF THE SECRETAFY 



71 



The attendance of organizations, mainly classes of students, of 

 which there is definite record, was 10,660, from 212 different schools 

 or groups in 15 States and the District of Columbia. This large 

 decrease from last year of visitors in this group was due mainly to 

 restrictions on chartered bus travel which went into effect the first 

 part of June, a month during which the largest number of schools 

 or classes usually visit the Zoo. A complete listing by States follows : 



state 



Connecticut 



Delaware 



District of Columbia 



Maine 



Maryland 



Massachusetts 



Michigan 



New Jersey 



New York 



State 



Number 



of 

 parties 



North Carolina 

 Ohio 



Pennsylvania-. 

 South Carolina. 



Tennessee 



Virginia 



West Virginia.. 



Total 



As in preceding years, a census was made every afternoon at about 

 3 o'clock of the cars parked on the Zoo ground. During the year 

 56,585 cars were so listed, representing every State in the Union, as 

 well as Alaska, Brazil, Canal Zone, Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, 

 Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, Philippine Islands, and Venezuela. 



This count is not of value as showing a total attendance, but only 

 as indicating the percentage of attendance by States. The record 

 for the year shows that the District of Columbia automobiles com- 

 prised 39 percent, Maryland 22 percent, Virginia 15 percent, Penn- 

 sylvania 4 percent; and the remaining 20 percent were from other 

 States, Territories, and countries. 



The attendance at the Zoo reflects changed conditions incident to 

 the war. Formerly there were relatively few visitors in the early 

 days of the week and in the mornings, but now there is a pronounced 

 increase during these periods, so that the highs and lows of attendance 

 are less pronounced. 



Owing to the large increase in Washington population, the local 

 attendance at the Zoo has so increased that it offsets the decrease in the 

 number of transient visitors brought about by the curtailment of 

 automobile travel. 



Large numbers of men in uniform are enjoying their first oppor- 

 tunity to visit a large zoo, and some groups of injured or sick are 

 brought by nurses or Red Cross drivers. The Zoo continues to be a 

 regular study ground for art and biolog}' classes, as well as an impor- 

 tant focal point for letters, telephone calls, and personal queries 

 regarding animals, their behavior, and methods to be followed in 

 preventing or remedying injuries from animals, how to care for 

 animals, and many miscellaneous questions. 



