120 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



mark. Plans are under way in a number of the larger cities of 

 the country for the building of aquariums ; notably Boston, Wash- 

 ington, Philadelphia and San Francisco; and the New York 

 Aquarium has been called upon to furnish data not only for these 

 but for a number of others the world over ; some as remotely situ- 

 ated as Manila, P. I., and Durban, South Africa. 



If the New York Aquarium is to occupy a place on a plane 

 with the other great scientific institutions of the city and country, 

 and if it is to meet the demands imposed upon it by an ever in- 

 creasing public attendance, it is essential that plans for an ade- 

 quate building and equipment should be brought to fulfilment 

 as soon as possible. 



The preliminary plans of a proposed addition to the Aquar- 

 ium building were published in the Director's report for 1909. 

 These plans have been revised during the past year and are pre- 

 sented on pages 112, 113 and 114. It is probable that the 

 Director will find it necessary to make a trip to investigate con- 

 ditions in the various aquariums of Europe. 



There seems no room for doubt that some radical change 

 should be undertaken in making the Aquarium building present- 

 able. The circle of magnificent buildings enclosing Battery Park 

 is now complete, with the exception of a short block between 

 Greenwich and Washington Streets, and no doubt this will soon 

 be rebuilt. Surrounded by these great buildings, the Aquarium 

 presents a very humble appearance. The only excuse for retain- 

 ing the present building at all, is found in the fact that it is con- 

 nected with certain historical events. However, it is not a part 

 of our plan to do away with the present building, but to build 

 around and over it in such a manner as to render it more pleas- 

 ing in appearance and at the same time make it much more ser- 

 viceable, while retaining substantially its present form. Situ- 

 ated as the Aquarium is, at the very front door of our great city, 

 it should be made one of the most striking and monumental build- 

 ings of the waterfront, instead of the architectural eyesore that 

 it now presents. 



In the meantime, the public continues to throng the present 

 Aquarium to a greater extent than any other aquarium, museum, 

 or similar institution in the world, often in much greater num- 

 bers than can be accommodated. 



IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS 



A number of breaks in the piping occasioned the loss of the 

 stored sea-water to such an extent that it was found necessary 



