136 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



anywhere along the coast. With a boat of this character in com- 

 mission, it will be possible to bring- the living exhibits up to a 

 standard not yet attained by any Aquarium. 



Exhibit of Fancy Goldfishes. — On November 27 to 30, the 

 Aquarium Society of New York, an organization devoted to the 

 breeding and rearing of fresh-water fishes for small aquaria, held 

 an exhibition of fancy breeds of goldfishes in the Aquarium. It 

 attracted considerable attention. The 24 tanks constituting the 

 exhibit were displayed chiefly on the coping of the central pool. 



Improvements to Buildiyig. — The only improvements made 

 to the building during the year by the City were temporary re- 

 pairs to the roof. Toward the close of the year the Park Depart- 

 ment authorized long needed repairs to the public lavatory in the 

 Aquarium, but this work has not yet been commenced. 



Painting and Repair Work. — A considerable amount of much 

 needed painting of wooden reserve tanks, distributing tanks, 

 heavy piping and pump room machinery was accomplished 

 through the industry of the employes. They also did excellent 

 repair work on two large wooden filter tanks, each eight feet in 

 diameter, which had begun to deteriorate. These tanks were 

 lined with wire netting firmly secured with staples and then 

 heavily coated with cement to close leaks and to insure their pre- 

 servation. 



Reneival of Fiirnace Walls. — The rebuilding of furnace walls 

 was done by contract. The walls are exposed to intense heat the 

 year round and require repairs annually. 



Gravity Filters. — The Jackson gravity filters installed in 

 1908 in connection with the reservoir of stored sea water, are in 

 need of extensive repairs, the lead pipes in the bed of the filters 

 having become much corroded and otherwise deteriorated. These 

 filters have rendered excellent service and must be put in thorough 

 repair at an early date. No more simple and effective type of 

 filter has yet been designed for such a purpose. It continually 

 carries off the overflow of sixty exhibition and reserve fish tanks, 

 returning the water to the reservoir cleared of all matter likely 

 to affect its purity or transparency. The entire bed of the con- 

 crete filtering chamber is covered with closely laid horizontal 

 pipes of lead half sunken in the concrete. The exposed part of 

 each pipe has innumerable crosswise cuts made with fine saws, 

 which permit a rapid drainage of water without any loss of the 



