SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



109 



gill parasites are responsible for the loss of more of our fishes 

 than any other discernible cause. 



Internal parasites are occasionally responsible for the loss 

 of specimens. One notable case is that of the large drumfish, 

 in the flesh of which are found the larval cysts of the tape- 

 worm (Tetrarhynchus elongatus) . These cysts, according to 

 measurements made by Dr. MacCallum, may reach a length of 

 20 1-2 inches by 3 or 4 millometers in thickness, and the mus- 

 culature may be riddled by them. The protozoan parasites 

 known as Myxosporidia, which form tumor-like swellings and 

 sores on the skin and internally, are not infrequently the cause 

 of death. 



Among more unusual cases reported by Dr. MacCallum are 

 thyroid disease (goitre), liver disease with occlusion of the 

 bile duct, epithelioma (cancer) eroding the lower jaw, and a 

 case of suppurative myocarditis (a form of heart disease oc- 

 casionally observed in man). 



When the detailed reports submitted by Dr. MacCallum have 

 accumulated sufficiently it is hoped that the results of his studies 

 may be brought together in a separate report. 



ATTENDANCE AT THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM IN 1912. 



Daily average 



3,214 

 4,106 

 4,693 

 6,097 

 6,181 

 6,962 

 7,365 

 8,134 

 8,220 

 6,190 

 5,108 

 4,013 



Total " 2,144,355 " " for year 5,859 



The increase in the attendance over the year 1911 is 132,811. 



It is sixteen years since the Aquarium was opened to the 



public. The total number of visitors to December 31st, 1912, 



exceeds thirty-two and a half millions, or an average of over 



five thousand six hundred a day for the entire period. 



Zoological Society Bulletin. — Two numbers of the Zoologi- 

 cal Society Bulletin in 1912 were devoted to the Aquarium, and 



