REPORT OF THE 

 DIRECTOR OF THE AQUARIUM 



TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS 



THE Aquarium was under the constant supervision of the 

 Director from January 1, 1910, until June 14, 1910, when, 

 with the consent of the Executive Committee of the Zoological 

 Society, he was made Acting Director of the American Museum 

 of Natural History for the rest of the year. His connection with 

 the Museum will continue until February, 1911, a further leave 

 of absence having been granted at the request of the trustees of 

 the Museum. 



The care of the Aquarium during the latter half of the year 

 1910 was in the hands of Dr. Raymond C. Osburn, Assistant Di- 

 rector, under the general supervision of Director Townsend, who 

 devoted one day a week to Aquarium matters. 



This arrangement proved satisfactory, the Director's leave 

 of absence without pay being at a time when the Zoological So- 

 ciety had decided to relax its efforts in the improvement of the 

 old Aquarium building, believing that a new building had become 

 a necessity. The work of the Assistant Director at present is 

 practically confined to routine matters. The Director keeping 

 in touch with the architect in the preparation of plans for a 

 larger building. 



The building now used as an Aquarium is no longer suitable 

 for the purpose. The number of visitors has increased from 

 year to year, until it has become uncomfortably crowded, and 

 there is no room for the increase of the collections. The Aquar- 

 ium has become one of the important museums of the City and 

 has had the office business of a museum forced upon it, such as a 

 large correspondence and the active interest of the public, en- 

 tail. This work is being done without sufficient office room and 

 equipment, and no expansion is possible within the present walls. 



