rapidly, and a condition exists in which the 

 aquarium may he left absolutely alone to the 

 undisturbed processes of nature. 



You are writing occasionally upon these sub- 

 jects. Why do you not recommend the attempt 

 to maintain aquaria after this manner to those 

 who have graduated beyond the primitive ambi- 

 tion to behold a tank filled with a multitude of 

 fish ?" 



This experiment illustrates the fact that there 

 is no balance of forces in the adjustment of the 

 relations of plant and animal life, in the proper 

 meaning of the word, but that on the contrary 

 there must be a preponderance on the one side. 

 It illustrates also the operation of the principles 

 I have advocated in this article. For many years 

 my endeavor has been to bring about such a 

 general appreciation of the possibilities in the 

 use of aquaria, especially where used for biolog- 

 ical research, but I have long given up hope of 

 witnessing such a developement. I have suggest- 

 ed a number of possibilities in this direction and 

 I can claim to have influenced a few advances,, 

 but it is not in the power of anyone to hasten 

 progress except in the direction of sport or war, 

 or the making of money. It is only in these 

 directions that he can get a hearing. In any 

 other the human mind moves sluggishly. 



Aquariums are being built as adjuncts of bio- 

 logical laboratories for the alleged purpose of 

 unfolding the life histories and inter-relations of 

 plant and animal life, but there is not in the 

 world today a great aquarium where the fundi- 

 mental principles and requirements outlined by 

 Mr. Metcalf are given consideration. They are 

 merely holding receptacles for material that is 

 constantly being collected and cut into sections 

 for physiological and anatomical investigation. 

 Nor can there be anything better expected in 

 this direction until competant men are selected 

 for such work instead of those who are only 

 selected through political or other influences in 

 place of natural abilities. At present only the 

 spectacular is considered in the developement 

 of great aquaria, the managerle, whale-in-a-bath- 

 tub principle. 



iAN„lWgT'7.\ 



39088 01015 3856 



