TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 125 
The splendid exhibition tanks created in this way—eleven 
in number—have entailed no expense aside from the regular 
maintenance fund. They have quadrupled the swimming space 
of the tanks and afforded much better conditions of life for their 
living occupants. 
An equally important point is the increased attractiveness 
of the display in each tank, the greater depth of water (back 
from the glass) giving an “under water” effect that is not pos- 
sible in tanks of small size. The increased tank space also has 
made it possible to increase the number of species that may be 
confined together in each tank. 
During the fourteen years that the Aquarium has been 
under the management of the Zoological Society, it has been 
improved in many ways, chiefly in its mechanical department ; 
but these improvements are not such as are apparent to the visi- 
tor, the machinery of operation being largely out of sight. The 
enlarged exhibition tanks represent an improvement in the exhi- 
bition of specimens, so marked that it cannot fail to meet with 
the approval of the public. 
Having been assured by the City Fire Department that the 
operation of the refrigerating plant in the Aquarium would no 
longer be permitted until it could be separately and tightly 
housed against all possible danger to visitors, its removal to a 
new position became imperative. 
This work will be undertaken at once, as the cold water 
system must be ready for operation sometime in May. Being 
a part of the permanent and necessary equipment of the building, 
its removal and housing should not be chargeable to the main- 
tenance fund already heavily taxed on account of the increased 
cost of coal and other supplies. 
In order to make available for salt water exhibits two of 
the enlarged exhibition tanks of the fresh-water series, an ex- 
tension of piping was made. When cold weather came, an un- 
used wooden storage tank was converted into a water heater, 
which made it possible to exhibit in this water system many 
local sea fishes not to be found along our shores in winter. 
This improvement will be of great value, as marine species 
of fishes and invertebrates are much more numerous than fresh 
water species and should have a larger representation in our col- 
lection than has hitherto been possible. 
