Proceedings Forty-eighth Annual Meeting 103 



feet, there was not sufficient force in the discharge of water to 

 carry the air to the bottom, but some of the water would discharge 

 through the air holes in the union. Any difficulty of this sort can 

 be adjusted so as to use the minimum amount of water and, at 

 the same time, force into the aquarium a considerable amount 

 of air. The aerator is attached to the regular supply pipe leading 

 to the aquarium and setting vertically a few inches above the 

 water level. The nozzle shown in the drawing is not absolutely 

 necessary, the water discharging directly from the plug in the 

 intake pipe having sufficient force to suck the air through the 

 holes in the union and driving it into the aquarium. 



This simple device was suggested by Mr. Norman Price, a 

 plumber who had never had anything to do with fish except to 

 catch them. After it was applied to the aquarium containing the 

 small-mouth bass we did not lose a fish. It is proposed to install 

 the device in every one of the aquaria, not only to improve the 

 condition of the water for all the fishes, but because it permits 

 the use of less water. The size of the pipe and the size of the 

 holes both in the union and in the nozzle or plug may be varied 

 to suit conditions. 



Discussion. 



Dr. R. C. Osburn: I wish to ask Mr. Titcomb if the air is well distrib- 

 uted in small bubbles. With compressed air driven through wooden plugs 

 there is a very fine distribution of the air, but if this apparatus is effective 

 in that respect it does away with all secondary means of aeration and should 

 be especially useful for temporary aquaria. 



Mr. Titcomb: The air is broken up into a cloud of white. The amount 

 and the size of the bubbles can be regulated very largely by the pressure 

 under the control of the supply valve. 



Mr. Chas. O. Hayford, Hackettstown, N. J. This device should be 

 very useful to hatcheries. In those that use spring water, there is often a 

 great lack of oxygen. Another thing that troubles us is the jumping at the 

 intake of our ponds and this device should tend to eliminate some of that. 

 It is so inexpensive that it is worthy of a trial by all of us. 



Mr. G. C. Leach, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries: How far above the water is 

 the apparatus placed, and have you ever experimented with low pressure, 

 such as is usually in use around hatcheries? 



Mr. Titcomb: It makes no difference where you place it, the air is car- 

 ried successfully. We have not experimented with low pressure. I think 

 there is a chance for experiment by varying the size of the holes according 

 to the amount of water you have. 



