86 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
Boat House Restaurant.—While there was a small falling off 
in the gross business at the Boat House Restaurant we were able 
by careful economy and a change in the operating plan for the 
winter months to make a better showing than in 1916. It was 
decided to close the main dining room between November 1 and 
April 1. This permits continuous operating of the lunch room 
with a light refreshment service from 9 to 5:30 daily, and dis- 
penses with the services of a chef for the winter. 
Soda Water.—A very substantial increase was made over 
last year in gross receipts from this source, but the increase in 
cost of materials more than kept pace with it so the net results 
were not as good as we hoped they would be. There is perhaps 
no other branch of the privileges more seriously affected by the 
present conditions than the soda and ice cream business. Their 
immediate future is so uncertain as to make it difficult to make 
plans for the coming season. The shortage of sugar very prob- 
ably may cause the Government to place serious restrictions upon 
its use for these purposes. 
One very substantial and much needed improvement from 
which we had the benefit in 1917, was the putting in of an ex- 
cellent concrete floor in the Shelter Pavilion. The floor drains 
to the catch basins permit its being quickly and thoroughly 
cleaned, and add materially to the sanitary control of this stand. 
We took advantage of the opportunity given us by the dis- 
mantling of this stand to replace the old style soda fountain with 
a modest priced counter service fountain, making a plain but 
substantial outfit. 
While there probably is no prospect of relief at the present 
time as regards the condition of the soda pavilion and fountain 
in front of the Reptile House, the fact should not be overlooked 
that an entirely new structure, with a new fountain, must be 
provided in the very near future. Some repair work will have 
to be done to get through the coming season. 
Guide Book.—The American Eagle edition of the Guide Book 
was placed on sale on August 1, just in time to prevent a break 
in the supply, although the last edition went more rapidly in the 
early months of the season than had been anticipated. 
There was no change in the standard of quality set for the 
Guide Book, though the profits from its sale were materially re- 
duced by advances in the cost of paper stock and other items. 
