SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 105 



larger groups, from which the weak or injured have been gradu- 

 ally eliminated. 



While feeding is a matter requiring careful attention, the 

 purity and temperature of the water are still more important, 

 and are watched night and day. No other public aquarium 

 maintains so large and varied a collection. 



There are on exhibition in the Aquarium at the present 

 time about 170 species in all groups which is about as large a 

 number of forms as has been on exhibition at any one time 

 in the history of the institution. In the different groups the 

 number stands as follows : 



Fishes 113 species, 3,679 specimens. 



Reptiles 24 species, 137 specimens. 



Amphibia 5 species, 24 specimens. 



Invertebrates 26 species, 1,557 specimens. 



Mammals 1 species, 1 specimen. 



169 species, 5,398 specimens. 

 The collection of fishes has probably never been in better 

 condition than at the present time, both in regard to number of 

 species and to number and condition of individuals. These may 

 be classed as follows : 



Fresh-water 38 species, 2,868 specimens. 



Salt-water (local) .. 23 species, 496 specimens. 

 Salt-water (tropical) 52 species, 315 specimens. 



113 species, 3,679 specimens. 



Of this number 54 species are entitled to rank as game 

 fishes of Avhich 18 are fresh-water and 6 local salt-water and 

 30 tropical salt-water. Out of the whole number at least 74 

 species have some commercial value and most of them may be 

 found, at least occasionally, on the New York market. 



The fish hatchery is running at the present time with eggs 

 of the rainbow and brook trout and white fish furnished us by 

 the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 



The 25 species of reptiles include 17 species of fresh-water 

 turtles, 4 species of marine turtles, an alligator, Floridan croco- 

 dile and a species of crocodile from the Malabar coast of India. 

 Among the amphibia may be mentioned the giant salamander 

 of Japan which is again represented in our collection. 



The 25 species of invertebrates include 10 of commercial 

 importance. Perhaps the most striking of these is the tank 

 of eleven spiny lobsters or sea-crayfish from Key West. 



