114 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
The Director and Curators of the Aquarium have for some 
time entertained the opinion that the methods of feeding fishes 
should be modified. Among those lost from time to time were 
specimens which dissection showed to be excessively fat. 
It was known from the work of Dr. MacCallum, Pathologist 
to the Aquarium, that the principal losses were due to parasites 
—hbut overfeeding might be causing losses that could be pre- 
vented. 
It has always been the practice at the Aquarium to feed 
freely every day and it was decided to experiment for a time 
with feeding on alternate days only, yet allowing as much food 
to each tank as its occupants would consume. 
The results of this method of feeding after several months 
trial were found to be satisfactory. The health of the fishes 
was apparently better, while the saving in cost and especially 
in the labor of preparing food was materially lessened. 
Fishes in captivity have rather limited space for exercise, 
and some species still remain unnecessarily fat. Continued ex- 
periment may show that the food allowance could be further re- 
duced with beneficial results. 
A complete list of gifts to the Aquarium will be found else- 
where in this report. 
The tropical fishes figured in this report, black grouper, red 
grouper, dog snapper, white margate, tiger rockfish and squirrel 
fish, are species which have long been exhibited at the Aquarium. 
They belong to the Florida and West Indies region, where they 
are regarded as excellent food fishes. The black grouper reaches 
a weight of 50 pounds. The red grouper grows even larger, and 
sometimes ranges north as far as Virginia. In the Aquarium 
it is much given to changing its markings and coloration which 
it often does instantly. The dog snapper is a fish of moderate 
size, and in Cuba is known as “jocu.” The white margate is 
found from Florida to Brazil and is well known in West Indian 
markets. 
Specimens of the tiger rockfish two feet long have been 
received, but, like some other species of groupers, it probably 
reaches a much larger size in deep water. 
The squirrel fish is a well-known food fish, and is celebrated 
for its brilliant red coloration. It is known to reach a length 
of two feet. 
All of these species thrive in captivity. 
