38 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



to strike out this provision in the charter, and to allow other 

 amendments broadening the powers of the Society. . 



Ground Improvemeyit Fund. — On January 1, 1909, there was 

 a balance to the credit of the Ground Improvement Fund of 

 $71,222.24, and early in the year $10,000 was provided by the 

 City for the express purpose of furnishing the Administration 

 Building. In the last days of December, another appropriation 

 of $115,000 was made, but one of the last acts of Mayor Mc- 

 Clellan was to veto this appropriation, not on its merits, but to 

 leave this issue of corporate stock, along with many other mat- 

 ters, to the incoming Board of Estimate and Apportionment. 



Stokes' Bird Fund. — The Stokes' Bird Fund, established by 

 Miss Caroline Phelps Stokes for the protection of bird life, 

 showed a balance on January 1, 1910, of $5,203.89. The income 

 from this fund will be annually expended for the protection of 

 birds by the dissemination of proper literature, and by other 

 measures. The proceeds of this fund, although small in amount, 

 have already been productive of substantial results in the pro- 

 tection of wild life, and it is hoped that the fund will be aug- 

 mented by other donations for similar purposes. 



Maintenance of the Zoological Park. — The amount of Main- 

 tenance provided by the City for the Park during 1909, viz : — 

 $162,325 — was barely sufficient to maintain the Park. The high 

 standard of cleanliness and order maintained there, probably 

 higher than that of any other public park in this country, has 

 proved a serious drain on this fund. The Society asked for a 

 much larger appropriation for 1910, but received only an ad- 

 vance of $5,307, which must be used for additional attendants 

 and food for the new collections. It is to be hoped that for the 

 year 1911, a substantial increase will be provided, sufficient to 

 enable the Committee to more adequately recompense some of 

 the scientific staff and helpers, who are at present greatly un- 

 derpaid. 



Maintenance of the Aquarium. — The Maintenance of the 

 Aquarium for 1909, viz. — $46,000, is absolutely insufficient. 

 The saving in coal, amounting to over $1,000 during 1909, 

 brought about by the new system of water supply, enabled the 

 Society to escape the necessity of meeting a deficit, but the needs 

 of the Aquarium have far outgrown this meagre allowance. It 

 is absolutely necessary to have in the immediate future a sub- 

 stantial increase. 



