SECRETARY'S REPORT 105 
FEEDING THE ANIMALS 
To feed such a collection of animals with their varied requirements 
presents a considerable problem. At the beginning of the war, prices 
for many of the green types of food had gone so high that the use of 
such material was almost prohibitive, although it is essential for the 
well-being of many of the animals. Therefore the Zoo inaugurated a 
system of obtaining from nearby grocery stores the outer leaves of 
lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, and other material that would normally 
go into the refuse. This material is picked up daily and is sorted to 
make certain that it is in suitable condition. The animals have 
thrived, the cost for such green food has been held to a minimum, and 
it was thus possible to keep out of competition for human food when 
such material was scarce. The arrangement has been so satisfactory 
that it is being continued. 
During the war the United States Marshal’s office made arrange- 
ments to turn over to the Zoo food that had been condemned in the 
courts as unsuitable for human consumption. That office has con- 
tinued to send considerable quantities and many different kinds of 
such food. The Zoo also frequently receives offers from private 
individuals or business houses of food that they wish to dispose of 
without having to go through the court procedure of condemnation. 
Thus diversified food was received for the animals, which greatly 
aided in keeping down the cost of feeding. 
MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS 
In the lion house many of the old cages were extensively repaired, 
and a portion of the steam conduit under the building was repaired 
and improved. Concrete floors were laid in the outside cages at the 
monkey house, and 6-inch concrete slabs were laid between the 
sidewalk and the cages around the stone cat houses. A sidewalk was 
built from the small-mammal house to the walk between the reptile 
house and the antelope building. 
By clearing and surfacing additional land, the capacity of the bus- 
parking area was increased from 20 to 40 busses. ‘The capacity of the 
automobile-parking area also was increased from 650 to 750 auto- 
mobiles. 
For the third successive year the fight by chemical means against 
poison ivy continued, and very little of this plant pest remains in 
areas commonly frequented by the public. Increased efforts have 
been directed toward improving the appearance of the grounds, 
caring for the lawns, planting trees and shrubs, and carrying on other 
gardening work. As a whole, satisfactory progress has been made in 
returning to normal maintenance. 
