100 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



On the whole, the boating season was very satisfactory, and 

 closed without an accident of any consequence. As considerable 

 work is required on the electric launches and their batteries 

 before next season, it was thought best to carry our boat fore- 

 man through the winter, and have him continue this work. The 

 boating equipment should therefore be in very good condition 

 before the spring of another season. 



Attention is again called to the urgent necessity of a new 

 concrete dock at the boat landing. The old wooden structure 

 which has now served for a number of years is rapidly giving 

 way and requires constant repairs. The stairs leading from the 

 dock to the Boat House are in bad shape, and must be carefully 

 gone over and strengthened before another season, to insure 

 their not giving way when crowded. As the prospect of securing 

 an appropriation from the City for constructing a new dock in 

 the near future seems very gloomy, we urge that this improve- 

 ment be made from the Boat Receipts in 1915, and that the work 

 begin as soon as the season closes to permit of its being carried 

 on without interfering with the boating business. 



Gate Receipts. — For the first time in a number of years 

 there was a considerably reduced income from admissions at 

 the gates on pay days. As referred to elseM^here in this report, 

 the gate receipts for 1914 were, by action of the Executive Com- 

 mittee, placed in a new fund to be utilized in making a number 

 of imperative repairs to buildings that could not be taken care 

 of from Maintenance funds. 



Riding Animals. — The Riding Animal Privilege made an 

 excellent showing for the year. While the gross receipts were 

 not quite equal to those of last season, operating expenses were 

 lower, resulting in an increase in the net profits. 



Pavilion East of Bronx River. — Construction work on the 

 new pavilion East of Bronx River was not completed until late 

 in the season, too late to inaugurate any refreshment service, 

 or install equipment for use in 1914. The opening of this pa- 

 vilion, situated as it is on the crest of the knoll north of the open 

 glade east of the Bronx River (opposite the Boat House) sug- 

 gests the desirability of making some provision at this point for 

 a small public playground for children. 



During recent years the ^ity has been doing much along 

 this line in its various public parks, with beneficial results. The 

 open space south of this pavilion is a natural playground, and 

 at present there is no other part of the Zoological Park where 



