634 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [4] 



maintenance will be very slight, probably not over $8,000 or $10,000 

 annually. A naturalist is employed at Trieste in securing and forward- 

 ing specimens. 



The entrance price was fixed at 50 kreutzers for adults and 20 kreutzers 

 for children. 



CRYSTAL PALACE AQUARIUM. 



The aquarium is one of the added attractions to the permanent ex- 

 hibition at the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, and being the property of 

 a separate company an extra price is charged for admission. It has 

 been very popular and is reputed to have paid 30 per cent, upon its cost 

 annually. There are eighteen large show tanks and two rooms fitted 

 with smaller basins or reservoirs. It is intended that the collection 

 shall embrace the whole series of marine fauna. The cuttle fishes, the 

 cray-fish, and the octojius attract special attention. It is located at the 

 north end of the Palace, between the tropical department and the north 

 rater-tower. It is below the main floor level, and is reached by a flight 

 of steps. 



THE AQUARIUM AT BRIGHTON. 



This great attraction to the citizens of London and the United King- 

 dom and to the traveling j)ublic owes its existence to private enterprise 

 under a joint-stock organization. It is located at the sea-side, upon land 

 which may be said to have been reclaimed from the sea close to the 

 chain pier immediately below the cliff, the building being protected from 

 the waves by a strong sea-wall formed of concrete and Portland stone. 

 It was provisionally opened at Easter, 1872, but not to the public until 

 the following August, upon the occasion of the visit of the British As- 

 sociation. 



The building is 715 feet in length, with an average breadth of 100 

 feet, and is sunk below the surface for the most part in order not to in- 

 tercept the view of the water from the cliff and the line of buildings 

 facing the beach. It was erected from the designs and under the super- 

 intendence of Mr. E. Birch. It is on the Italian style of architecture, 

 and bricks, terracotta, granite, and tiles are the chief materials. Mr. 

 Birch visited the Boulogne aquarium in 1866 and wasled to conclude 

 that the construction of marine aquariums on a scale of magnitude 

 hitherto unattempted was a matter eminently fitted for British enter- 

 prise. Brighton, being a place of great resort on the coast and readily 

 accessible from Loudon, was selected as the most feasible spot for the 

 construction. 



On entering, the visitor finds himself at the iead of a broad flight of 

 granite steps, with tiled platforms at intervals, so that the descent is 

 rendered very gradual and easy. There are five arched portals 18 feet 

 high, supported by decorated terra-cotta columns. On one side is the 

 restaurant, and on the other the reading room, where the serials and 

 daily papers can be found. For the relative positions of these rooms 



