TENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 41 



form and closed circulation of water and will be put in operation 

 as soon as certain small details have been completed. 



These details have proved very troublesome, as it has been 

 necessary to have all the pipes lined with lead in order to prevent 

 the gradual accumulation of rust and the discoloration of the 

 water in the tanks. 



When this system is completed and has been put in operation 

 your Committee expect to be able to exhibit a large series of in- 

 veretebrates, which cannot be maintained owing to the diluted 

 character of the salt water now in use. 



A new iron and plate-glass vestibule has been constructed at 

 the entrance and a new system of transparent card labels for the 

 collections has been installed. 



The Fish Hatchery has been kept in operation during the year 

 and the hundred or more tanks of the Aquarium have been kept 

 filled to their utmost capacity. 



Contracts have been awarded for a complete heating and ven- 

 tilating system, and when this is installed the offensive odors 

 which are noticeable on crowded days will be eliminated. 



There are on exhibition nearly 2,500 specimens of fishes and 

 other invertebrates, representing about 150 species. This does 

 not include vounsf fish in the hatcherv and invertebrates. 



GAME PROTECTION. 



Among the original objects of the New' York Zoological Soci- 

 ety at the time of its organization was game protection. The 

 necessity, however, for the concentration of the Society's energy 

 and funds on the development of the Zoological Park forced this 

 matter into the background. During the last year the activity of 

 game destroyers, especially Italians, became so great that the 

 Society felt obliged to give serious attention to this subject. 



A special Department for Game Protection was established, and 

 Mr. George O. Shields was appointed Special Agent of Game 

 Protection. An active campaign was organized against the kill- 

 ing of song birds in the outlying districts of the City of New 

 York, which was going on without interference from the police. 

 So bold had these bird killers become that they actually invaded 

 the lands -of the Zoological Park and shot birds and squirrels. 



As a result of this campaign about 15 persons were arrested 

 and are now awaiting trial. Nearly 3,000 notices, calling the 

 attention to the law prohibiting the carrying of fire-arms by unnat- 

 uralized aliens, were distributed and posted throughout the State. 



