128 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



years is the distribution of marine aquaria in the pubhc schools. 

 It has been of great use to the teachers of biology throughout 

 the City. Although aquaria have been placed in about 350 

 school houses, the cost has been unimportant as the Aquarium 

 supplies only small forms of sea shore life, while the glass 

 aquaria have been furnished by the Board of Education. These 

 aquaria have furnished object lessons which have made the gen- 

 eral study of natural history interesting instead of dull to the 

 various classes which have received them. This work has in- 

 creased in popularity and could not now be abandoned. It has 

 taken practically all the time of one man from our small force 

 of employees. In addition to the placing of aquaria in the school 

 houses, special collections of small marine life have been kept in 

 the laboratory for the use of teachers bringing their classes to 

 the Aquarium. These classes have during the past year amount- 

 ed to more than 4,800 persons, and their frequent presence in 

 the limited space available has worked to the discomfort of the 

 administrative office. 



Among other things, the Aquarium is much in need of a 

 good working library, about one-third of the books now in the 

 building being the property of the Director. The collection of 

 books, small as it is, has been frequently used by teachers and 

 the general public. This has also proved a disadvantage, 

 rendering the Director's services frequently necessary as 

 librarian. 



The Aquarium has frequently allowed its cramped quarters 

 to be used as a meeting place for various societies interested in 

 the promotion of the commercial fisheries and it is eminently fit 

 and proper that the Aquarium building should be made useful 

 in this way. 



Our attendance has now become so great that the time has 

 come for an increase in our exhibits in certain respects. These 

 have hitherto consisted chiefly of fishes, the great division of 

 invertebrates having been neglected on account of lack of space 

 and proper facilities for handling them. This unevenness in 

 our collections should be corrected especially as the Aquarium is 

 frequently called upon to assist educational institutions and can- 

 not respond on account of its limited facilities. Although all 

 present exhibition space is fully occupied, it would be possible 

 to increase our exhibits, by utilizing the space now occupied by 

 machinery. With an outside engine house to which boilers, 

 pumps, filters, distributing tanks and refrigerating plant could 



