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NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



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A SUGGESTION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE AQUARIUM BUILDING -I^ 



This plan contemplates the removal of the existing wooden superstructure, both 

 weak and unsightly, and an enlargement of the building in pyramidal form. 



From a sketch by C. H. Townsend 



not the time fully arrived for a general improvement that will 

 remedy all defects and give New York an aquarium befitting its 

 position as almost the largest city in the world ? 



A new plan for the reconstruction of the Aquarium building 

 at a moderate cost as com.pared with previous plans, has been 

 considered within the year. It provides for a clean sweep of the 

 unsightly and ruinous superstructure, down to the top of the 

 original nine-foot-thick wall of the fort which it was one hundred 

 years ago ; its replacement with second and third stories in 

 pyramidal form ; and the reclamation of ground floor and balcony 

 space now occupied by machinery, for new exhibition space. 

 Some idea of what is now proposed can be gathered from the 

 accompanying sketch by the Director. This plan involves no en- 

 croachment on park territory. 



The Collections. — The total number of specimens now in the 

 Aquarium is 4055 and the number of species 168. As compared 

 with the preceding year the figures show an increase in speci- 

 mens on exhibition of 130, and of species 12. Fishes numbered 

 2704 specimens and 120 species; invertebrates 1157 specimens 

 and 15 species ; reptiles 131 specimens and 23 species ; amphibians 

 60 specimens and 8 species ; mammals 3 specimens and 2 species. 



Additions were made to the collection of tropical fishes in 

 May and June. The second shipment received from Key West, 

 Florida, was divided among the New York, Philadelphia and 

 Detroit aquariums, all sharing in the expense. The usual au- 

 tumnal collecting trip to Key West was omitted owing to the gen- 

 eral loss of fishing boats at that point during a hurricane. 



