THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 



183 



Marine fishes and plants were obtained at various localities along 

 the east and west coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. The fresh-water 

 supplies were drawn chiefly from the Potomac, Mississippi, and Great 

 Lake basins, as also from the hatching establishments of the Commis- 

 sion. A principal object of the exhibit was to show the important food 

 and game fishes of typical localities, as well as numerous species which 

 were notable on account of their colors, their forms, and their singular 

 habits. The kinds of fishes and other forms of animal life shown were 

 as follows : 



Water for the aquarium. — It was at first proposed to use the con- 

 stituents of salt water and make from them the amount necessary for 

 supplying the marine aquarium at the World's Fair by the addition 

 of fresh water. Bitter water, salt, and lime were purchased in New Bed- 

 ford, Mass., and shipped to the Fisheries building. The lime residuum 

 from salt-water evaporation, upon analysis by the chemist of the 

 Agricultural Department, was pronounced almost pure calcium sul- 

 phate. One hundred and fifty sacks of natural sea salt, 3 bushels of 

 lime residuum, and 40 barrels of bitter water were obtained for the 

 purpose. Before this was finally used the Commissioner instituted a 

 series of experiments in his office at Washington and found that bitter 

 water offers no advantage, and it was feared that some deleterious effect 

 would result from its use. The original plan was abandoned, and it 

 was determined to transport natural sea water from a point on the 

 Atlantic coast. 



Transj)ortation of marine animals. — It was found very difficult to 

 ship large skates in water tanks; therefore the superintendent of the 

 Woods Hole station was instructed to experiment in keeping such 

 animals in clean sea weed, cotton fabric, or burlaps, providing for a free 



