90 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: 
Eight additional aquarium tanks have been located on the main 
floor between the central series of pillars, which have furnished 
a good means of exhibiting the collection of turtles. A further 
increase of tank space was secured by placing eighteen small 
aquaria on the coping of the large central pool. These supply 
exhibition space for an attractive collection of marine inverte- 
brates. Additional rockwork has been cemented into the large 
exhibition tanks, as backgrounds, and the work of labeling the 
collection has been continued. Special care has been exercised 
in the preparation of the labels, which are so complete as to 
render the use of a formal guide book unnecessary to the casual 
visitor. 
A very recent improvement of great importance has been the 
illumination of all wall tanks, with electric lights. This has 
overcome, in large measure, the darkness of the building during 
the winter season. The reception room has been supplied with 
rugs, curtains and comfortable chairs, and a number of semi- 
circular seats have been fitted to the outer series of pillars on 
the main floor. The admirable colored plates of the fishes of 
Porto Rico and Hawaii, issued by the U. S. Fisheries Bureau, 
have been framed in groups and placed on exhibition, together 
with certain tabulated information on the fishing industries of 
the United States. 
In the service galleries and elsewhere behind the scenes the 
work of improvement has been carried on almost continuously ; 
alterations have been made to lessen the cost of operation, in- 
crease light, provide for reserve specimens, and utilize waste 
space. A valuable bronze pump has been added to the equip- 
ment of the new sea-water system. 
The readiness of the Department of Parks and the Board of 
Estimate and Apportionment to approve the issue of bonds 
requested for the improvement of the Aquarium has been most 
gratifying. 
ATTENDANCE. 
The attendance for 1904 was 1,625,770, an increase Over 1903 
amounting to 77,879. 
The average daily attendance during the year was 4,454. 
The number of visitors present on Sundays during the summer 
months was very large, records of 11,000 to 14,000 being com- 
mon. The building was open to the public two hours longer each 
day during the summer season, while the half-day closing on 
Thursday was discontinued early in the year. 
