SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 35 
of the United States, gave the remainder of the summer to a 
tour of the aquariums of Europe, in England and various parts 
of the Continent, familiarizing himself with the latest develop- 
ments in the methods of stocking and the care of aquariums. He 
thus enters upon his position thoroughly equipped for his duties. 
For the scientific council of the Aquarium, the Society invited the 
co-operation of the following specialists: Professor Charles L. 
Bristol, of the University of New York, who has been directly 
interested in the Aquarium for several years; Professor Bashford 
Dean, of Columbia University, well known for his contributions 
to ichthyology; Dr. Alfred G. Mayer, of the Brooklyn Institute 
of Arts and Sciences, a graduate of Harvard, and formerly asso- 
ciated with Professor Alexander Agassiz; Mr. William E. Damon, 
and Mr. R. M. Shurtleff, both of whom have not only shown a 
warm interest in the Aquarium, but have considerable practical 
knowledge of the management of aquaria. All of these gentlemen 
accepted the invitation, and are now advising with Mr. Townsend 
in regard to various questions of administration. 
The actual legal transfer of the Aquarium took place on the 
31st of October, 1902. The presentation speech on that occasion 
was made by Hon. William R. Willcox, as follows: 
Professor Osborn, and Members of the Executive Committee of 
the New York Zoological Society: 
When in 1891 the United States Government decided to remove 
the Emigrant Station to Ellis Island, the question arose, what 
shall be done with Castle Garden? For fully forty years it had 
been used by the general government for the reception of emi- 
grants, and for many years before that time as a place of amuse- 
ment and a gathering hall fer large assemblages. Here it was 
that Lafayette was received on his visit to this country in 1824. 
Here also the patriot, Louis Kossuth, was welcomed on the occa- 
sion of his visit in 1851. Originally built upon the rocks and 
connected with the shore by a bridge, this structure has been suc- 
cessively used as a battery in the early days, as a place of amuse- 
ment, and as a landing place for emigrants. It was finally opened 
to the public as an Aquarium by the Department of Parks in the 
year 1896. For six years, therefore, the people of the City have 
had the advantages of this Aquarium, and that this privilege has 
been appreciated is attested by the fact that the yearly attendance 
during the past three years has been between one and a half and 
two millions of people. 
But it is not enough that an institution of this magnitude, con- 
