THE BIRMINGHAM AQUAEIUM. 87 



solution of sucli problems as how to secure the proper development of and 

 render available those almost innumerable germs of food supply that 

 are x^roduced by sea fishes in general. The Turbot, for instance, 

 produces about fourteen miUions of- eggs annually, of which not one 

 perhaps in ten thousand reaches matimtj', nor one in a miUion finds its 

 way to our tables. Our knowledge of the laws governing the movements — 

 the appearance and disappearance in certain localities — of the Herring 

 and other fishes, their spawning and time of development, is still 

 obscure ; and if we had light thrown upon this subject thousands of tons 

 of valuable food wotdd be available for us. These enquiries cannot be 

 considered visionarj', nor the results obtained from them unprofitable, 

 when it is remembered that within the last few years of judicious 

 legislation, the result of accurate knowledge obtained by these researches 

 has so developed the Salmon fishery that, in place of this fish being only 

 obtainable by the few and wealthy, it is now every season so cheap and 

 abrmdant as to be found on the table of the artisan." 



The id.ea of the Binningham Aquarium was ultimately revived in a 

 definite form by the late Mr. Arthur Eyland, (to whom the origination of 

 the Midland Institute was also due,) and he succeeded in enhsting the 

 support and co-operation of a nimiber of influential gentlemen to a 

 proposal, which led to the formation last year of a Limited Company for 

 the constraction of the Binningham Aquarium. It was felt that an 

 Aquarium alone could not be made to succeed financially, and it would 

 requu'e to be combined with some other attraction, such as first-class 

 music, and must consequently involve the erection of a large building in 

 some central situation. The great difficulty experienced was the obtain- 

 ing a suitable site in a sufficiently central situation ; but this has been 

 now overcome in a highly satisfactorj^ manner, by obtaining the site of 

 the old Hen and Chickens Hotel, in New Street, (classic gi-ound of the 

 old coaching days,) which is a remarkably favoiu-able situation for ready 

 access of the pubhc, in the principal thoroughfare of the town, and in 

 close proximity to the two railway stations. The hotel will be converted 

 into a first-class restaurant, the largest in the town, and in the rear will 

 be built the Aquarium, "with a spacious and convenient Concert Eoom 

 above it, aft'ording facihties for concerts that have been long felt to be 

 much needed in the town. 



The Aquarium will consist of a large, handsome Hall, upwards of 

 100 feet in length, with a series of tanks extending along each side, and 

 forming the sides of the Hall, and amounting in total extent to about as 

 much as those of the Crystal Palace Aquarium. There will also be an 

 extensive series of table tanks ; and in the rear a large and commodious 

 space for the food and store tanks, the machinery, and the general 

 working pui-poses of the Aquarium. The pubhc approach will be from 

 the present portico in New Street, through a large Entrance HaU, from 

 which a handsome flight of steps vrill lead down to the Aquarium, which 

 will be constructed of red terra-cotta, with the ceiling supported by arches 

 resting on ornamental pillars. The large Assembly Eoom, on a level with 

 the New Street entrance and over the Aquarium, wiU be 165 feet long, 

 and wiU consist of three divisions — the first portion being appropriated 



