REPORT OF THE 

 DIRECTOR OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK 



TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. 



THE year 1918 has been the most unsatisfactory year in the 

 history of the Zoological Park. It involved a serious short- 

 age of coal, the loss of a number of valuable men by the draft, 

 the death of many specimens that could not be replaced, an em- 

 bargo on imports, a long and irritating investigation by the Com- 

 missioner of Accounts, and lastly, a heavy cut in our mainte- 

 nance appropriation for 1919. 



Through diligence and makeshifts of many kinds, the coal 

 shortage was sufficiently overcome that the tropical collections 

 were carried through the winter without any calamities. The 

 outlook for coal is now far better than it was one year ago. 



Twelve of our young men were called to the colors, and six 

 others were ordered to seek "essential employment." This placed 

 us in double embarrassment, to supply the places of the absen- 

 tees and to preserve those places in such a manner that they can 

 again be made available to their original occupants when the gov- 

 ernment releases them from service. In addition to this, the 

 Zoological Society felt compelled to make up to the men who 

 entered the Army or the Navy the difference between their Park 

 pay and their pay in the service of the United States. 



EMBARGO ON IMPORTS. 



In June, 1917, the War Trade Board forbade all importa- 

 tions of "wild animals" for any other than "breeding purposes," 

 and this caused a loss of several valuable shipments for which 

 we had previously arranged. The embargo continued until about 

 December 15, when it was "relaxed." Previous to that time the 

 embargo had covered all even-toed ungulates from Central and 

 South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific Islands. 



