RELORT OF THE DIRECTOR 
OF THE 
AQUARIUM 
TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. 
HE improvement of the Aquarium building, under the 
ae auspices of the New York Zoological Society, made de- 
cided progress during the past year. 
The construction of a large reservoir for pure sea-water, the 
enlargement of sky-lights generally, and the alteration of un- 
sightly features of construction were all accomplished by means 
of an issue of $30,000 of bonds, granted by the city in 1903. 
A further issue of $40,000 of bonds was made in 1904, for 
the construction of pipe galleries underneath the building, the 
installation of salt-water filters, a heating and ventilating system, 
and other improvements. The work on the first two features 
is well under way. When completed it will permit of the new 
reservoir being put into use, and also the renewal of all worn- 
out piping connected with the floor pool and heating system. 
All the piping of the floor pools and heaters was originally buried 
in the earth underneath the building, where repairs have been 
impossible. Prompt attention to this matter became imperative. 
The work of excavating under the building was also necessary 
on account of the fact that the earth under one of the floor pools 
had settled so that the foundation of the pool needed strengthen- 
ing. All this work is being thoroughly done, so that in the 
future all the piping in the building will be accessible for repairs. 
A new iron and glass vestibule for the main entrance is under 
construction. 
Numerous improvements in the building and its equipment 
have been continued from the maintenance fund. Among these 
may be mentioned additional painting, the placing of foot rails 
around all floor pools, affording children better views than have 
been possible heretofore; the construction of a photographic 
room, and an attic room for the care of palms and other orna- 
mental plants. This room, well supplied with skylights, will 
serve also at times as a place for keeping turtles, which do not 
flourish in the exhibition tanks, where they are cut off from sun- 
light. 
