TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT 107 
There has been some loss of water from the Aquarium 
reservoir in Battery Park. The piping system and the ex- 
hibition tanks have been repeatedly examined for leaks but with- 
out result. At times the loss has amounted to the lowering of 
the general water level from two to three inches a month. 
The reservoir may have developed a small leak as the result 
of the heavy subway blasting that has been going on in Battery 
Park for several months. The losses have been made up by 
additions but it is now necessary to cut off and test each of the 
four sections of the reservoir in turn until the leak can be 
located, and this is being done. 
SANITARY CONDITIONS. 
It seems desirable to refer to this matter, as there is an 
impression in some quarters that the Aquarium is not as well 
ventilated as it might be. This is in part due to the fact that 
the Aquarium formerly had no mechanical system of ventilation. 
The installation of the Sturtevant system some years ago had 
the result of remedying this defect to a considerable extent. In 
warm weather when the building is crowded with visitors the 
air often becomes close. 
Natural ventilation is almost lacking as the heavy walls of 
the Aquarium have few openings, and the windows of the 
second story are placed too high to affect the ground floor except 
on very windy days. It should be borne in mind that under such 
conditions perfect ventilation is difficult. This is due to the 
peculiar construction of the building. 
Much of the labor of the Aquarium force is directed to the 
work of cleaning. The floors are carefully swept each evening 
and are washed every morning before visitors arrive. A vacuum 
cleaner is kept in regular use. The service galleries behind the 
exhibition tanks are kept well whitewashed, and washing and 
painting in various parts of the building is going on almost con- 
tinuously. There can be little dirt in the Aquarium except what 
comes in various ways with the daily crowd of visitors. 
While there is much that contributes to the soiling of floors 
and painted surfaces, cleaning goes on without cessation and 
the Director maintains that the Aquarium is well cared for in 
this respect. Some extension of the mechanical ventilating 
system is undoubtedly desirable, but the presence of large 
crowds of visitors must necessarily affect the air just as it does 
in theatres or other crowded buildings. 
