FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 128 



careful treatment afforded our fishes and other animals has re- 

 sulted in a very low death rate. 



Five shipments of Bermuda fishes were made. Owing to 

 untoward weather conditions at the time of shipment, the loss of 

 these specimens in transit was heavier than usual; a loss which 

 was made good by the Bermuda collector. Continued efforts 

 were made to bring specimens of the Octopus from Bermuda, but 

 all resulted in failure though the experiment was varied at each 

 trial in the attempt to eliminate the cause of death. 



Some splendid gifts of fishes were made to the Aquarium by 

 the Pennsylvania and New York State Fish Commissions, the 

 South Side Sportsmen's Club and Mr. 0. Hazard. Through the 

 kindness of Hon. W. E. Meehan, we received from the Pennsyl- 

 vania State Fish Commission a fine collection of black basses, 

 ranging in size from fingerlings to five year olds; also a lot of 

 yearling yellow perch and young bull frogs. All these specimens 

 were reared in the Pennsylvania hatcheries. The New York 

 Forest, Fish and Game Commission has furnished us, through 

 the courtesy of Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, State Fish Culturist, a fine 

 collection of thirty albino lake trout, making a very striking 

 exhibit. From the South Side Sportsmen's Club we have re- 

 ceived two collections of very handsome brook trout, and from 

 Mr. R. G. Hazard of Peacedale, R. I., a number of basses, pick- 

 erel and salt water fishes. 



By purchase forty sea horses have been added ; also a num- 

 ber of large skates and other fishes taken on the off-shore fishing 

 grounds by the steamer Angler. 



Three alligator snapping-turtles from the lower Mississippi 

 were purchased, also some large hawksbill turtles, and a small 

 leather-back turtle, which was presented, lived for some days in 

 one of the floor pools. 



Four young harbor seals were purchased in June, but all 

 have since died from pulmonary troubles. It seems impossible 

 to keep these seals for any length of time in confinement indoors. 



The largest of the West Indian seals died on December 27, 

 of lobular pneumonia, after a residence of more than a year and 

 a half at the Aquarium. When received on June 14, 1909, the 

 animal measured four feet ten inches and at death measured 

 seven feet two inches to the end of the hind flippers, a growth 

 of over two feet in eighteen months. The remaining two seals 

 of this species are apparently in excellent condition. The old 

 California sea-lion which has been in the Aquarium for three 

 years retains his usual vigor. 



