RELORI OF THE DIRECTOR OF FHE 
AQUARIUM TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS 
N DECEMBER, 1906, the New York Aquarium completed its 
first decade, with a record of over seventeen millions of vis- 
itors. Its patronage by the public has been astonishingly large 
and in the matter of attendance it is probably unequaled by any 
institution in the world. A building three times as large would 
be required to comfortably accommodate the visitors which 
throng it. 
The Zoological Society, in the four years of its management of 
the institution, has been engaged in improving the building in 
various ways, the work of the past year having included new 
boilers and a new ventilating system. The tedious work of re- 
placing worn-out piping with lead-lined pipe, which has been in 
progress for several months, is still going on. 
In addition to the regular maintenance fund, the City has gen- 
erously provided an improvement fund, which has made the work 
of the past four years possible, while the maintenance fund has 
permitted of a number of minor improvements each year. An- 
other year’s work should place the equipment of the building in 
such condition that its collections can be made more varied and 
interesting than heretofore. 
The employees, most of whom have been in the Aquarium many 
years, continue to render good service, and may be considered ex- 
perts in their line of work. Their duties are exacting and include 
cleaning and heating of the building, the care of the different 
water svstems, the feeding and care of the collections and attention 
to the comfort of visitors. They have gathered by seining from 
local waters, practically all of the fresh and salt-water fishes now 
in the Aquarium. 
It is not possible to create any further exhibition space in the 
present building, which is stocked to its fullest capacity, and addi- 
tions can no longer be made without rejecting important species 
now on hand. 
The collections do not change much from year to year, but 
interesting species are added as opportunity affords. The exhibits 
