FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 137 



Part II. — Administration 



THE collections 



THE reservoir of stored sea water which has now been in use 

 eighteen months has enabled us to maintain the salt water 

 collections in better condition. Losses of specimens due to foul 

 water having been eliminated from all tanks connected with the 

 reservoir, the keeping of marine species is easier than ever before. 

 The life of such species in captivity has been materially length- 

 ened, and we have now only such difficulties to deal with as are 

 connected with the proper feeding of tropical species in a situa- 

 tion remote from their original habitat. 



On June 14th the Aquarium received an adult male and 

 two young specimens of the nearly extinct West Indian seal, 

 {Mo7iachus tropicalis) , all of which are at present in fine condi- 

 tion. The younger specimens, a male and female, have nearly 

 doubled their size during the six months which they have passed 

 in the Aquarium. This species appears to be well adapted to an 

 indoor life. These animals appear to be possessed of a high de- 

 gree of intelligence and are learning some of the tricks prac- 

 ticed by the West Indian seals kept in the Aquarium several 

 years ago. 



Three leather-backed turtles were received during the sum- 

 mer, but like all other specimens of this kind they did not sur- 

 vive. It seems to be quite impossible to induce this species to 

 feed in captivity. Although specimens have been procured 

 nearly every summer, it has never been possible to get them to 

 take food. 



During the summer three shipments of tropical fishes were 

 received from Bermuda, whereas four shipments were received 

 the previous year. The method of handling these fishes has been 

 so distinctly improved that it may be possible to get along with 

 still fewer shipments in the future. 



A collection of fifty young specimens of the interesting mud 

 fish, (Amia calva) , the first specimens of the young of this spe- 

 cies ever received at the Aquarium, was procured in June from 

 Erie County, Ohio. They appear to be as hardy as the very 

 large adults which have been living in the Aquarium for the 

 last ten or twelve years, and are growing rapidly. 



The Aquarium collector gathered from local waters large 

 numbers of fishes and invertebrates. These were placed on ex- 

 hibition, used as live food, or distributed to teachers for school 



