ZOOLOGICAL PARKS AND AQUARIUMS 929 



proposed, before constructing tanks and pools of such number and size as 

 would be difficult and expensive to stock and maintain. 



The next points for consideration are those connected with the equip- 

 ment necessary for the safe keeping of the aquatic forms brought together 

 with so much difficulty and so quickly lost when the conditions of captivity 

 are unfavorable. The possession of a large and beautiful building designed 

 by an ambitious architect does not imply by any means that the conditions 

 necessary to successful operation have been considered and provided. Judg- 

 ing from some of the sketches submitted, the proposed aquarium building 

 would serve equally well for a library or a hospital. It is therefore highly 

 desirable that the equipment of the aquarium be studied by an engineer or 

 an experienced aquarist, after which the architect may be called upon to 

 provide suitable housing, and this is possible with a very simple but well- 

 lighted building. The character of the exhibits and the number of tanks 

 and pools required having been determined, the problem of water supply 

 and its circulation should be undertaken by a competent person. This can 

 best be done by a careful study of methods employed in other aquariums, 

 lest important matters be overlooked and expensive alterations later be 

 made necessary. Fresh water may be taken from city supplies except in 

 cases where such are treated with chlorine or otherwise made unfavorable 

 to fish life. 



Sea water must be stored in reservoirs in sufficient quantity to fill 

 both reservoirs and exhibition tanks. Its purity must be safeguarded at 

 all times by proper filtration and aeration. The mechanical equipment 

 necessary to the operation of a public aquarium includes pumps for the 

 circulation of sea water, filters capable of cleansing the entire overflow of 

 the exhibition tanks on its way back to the reservoir, elevated distributing 

 tanks above the level of the exhibition tank, heaters for winter use in the 

 water system carrying all tropical collections and a refrigerating plant for 

 the cooling of fresh water carrying northern fish in summer. Sea water 

 pumps and piping must be of non-rust material, lest the water supply become 

 impregnated by iron rust. 



If marine collections are not to be included, the matter of equipment 

 becomes at once a simple one, as pumps, salt-water filters, distributing 

 tanks, heaters and reservoirs are all omitted and the number of employees 

 thus reduced by more than half. 



It is not necessary here to consider such auxiliary equipment as medium- 

 sized metal shipping tanks for use by rail or by motor truck, or the extra 

 large wooden tanks necessary for shipment by steamer. 



The lighting of the building by skylights over the exhibition tanks is a 

 matter of decided importance. Water is not easily lighted and such sky- 



