TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 89 



Maintenance Fund. — The introduction of a fish hatchery; the 

 introduction of electric hght ; the introduction of a large bronze 

 pump for stored sea-water ; the introduction of numerous small 

 aquaria on the floor, and on the copings on the large pool ; the 

 replacing of the worn out iron water heater wath a heater of 

 bronze; the erection of a large feed water heater to secure 

 economy of coal ; the extension of the gas light system to the main 

 floor tanks ; the provision of uniforms for employees. 



In addition to these items may be mentioned a few of the manv 

 small improvements that have served to make the /\quarium more 

 interesting and useful to the public : 



The complete labeling of the collections ; the introduction of 

 small aquaria in 300 public schools and other educational insti- 

 tutions of the City ; the general increase of the collections ; the 

 equipment of the ofiice, laboratory, photographic room and library 

 with furniture, appliances and books necessary to efficient public 

 service; the publication of circulars of information, etc., etc. 



There can be no doubt that the efforts put forth by the Society 

 to make the Aquarium attractive in every way possible have been 

 responsible for its steadily increasing attendance, which for two 

 years in succession has exceeded two millions of visitors. 



It would be superfluous to take up in detail here the various 

 relationships maintained by the Aquarium with visitors, teachers, 

 school children, newspaper men, anglers, professional fishermen, 

 fish culturists and scientists — the large correspondence carried on 

 with all of these being an important feature of the work of the 

 Aquarium office from day to day. Neither the building itself 

 nor its office force are large enough for the proper fulfilment of 

 the demands constantly being made upon them. Much of the 

 time of the Director was taken up during the summer with work 

 as secretary and treasurer of the local committee for the enter- 

 tainment of the International Zoological Congress which visited 

 New York in August. 



ATTENDANCE. 



The attendance for the year 1907 was greater than ever before, 

 reaching the enormous figure of 2,131,393, an average of 5,839 

 per day. 



The year's attendance is therefore equal to half the population 

 of New York City. The greatest number of visitors for a single 

 day was 24,544. 



