70 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I'OI.ICE PROTIXTIOX. 



A short time prior to the openiii,u^ day the Society forwarded 

 to the PoHce Commissioners an application for a special detail 

 of six policemen for permanent duty in the Zoological Park. In 

 due course this request was referred to Inspector John H. Grant 

 and Captain IIuf;:h Fitzpatrick, of the 41st Precinct, for investi- 

 gation and report. After a careful examination of the needs of 

 the Park, the Society's application was favorably reported upon, 

 and, on November 22d, Chief of Police Devery detailed eight 

 policemen for special duty in the Zoological Park enclosure and 

 animal buildings. 



During the open hours of the day six men are constantly on 

 duty, and two are on duty at night. On Sundays, when the 

 crowds in the animal buildings and elsewhere are very great. 

 Captain Fitzpatrick sends down extra men, including detectives 

 in civilian dress, for duty during the period of greatest attendance. 

 In the Reptile House, Bird House, and Small Mammals' House 

 it is absolutely necessary that policemen should be present every 

 Sunday to keep the crowds in motion and prevent congestion and 

 discomfort. In this duty, the keepers, Park watchmen, and vari- 

 ous other attendants regularly assist. 



The Director takes pleasure in reporting that during the en- 

 tire year reported upon, and in fact down to the date of publica- 

 tion, the Zoological Park has been very carefully looked after by 

 Captain Fitzpatrick, and it has been well protected. While the 

 most trying season of the year — the summer — is yet to come, 

 there is every reason to believe that the needs of the Park are now 

 so well understood that no great difficulty, beyond the labor in- 

 separable from the management and care of great crowds of 

 people, will be experienced by the representatives of the Police 

 Department. 



OPENING OF THE PARK. 



Twice was the formal opening of the Zoological Park post- 

 poned in order to give contractors time to finish their work. 

 Finally, however, on November 8th, with simple but appropriate 

 ceremonies, consisting of an address of welcome by Professor 

 Henry F. Osborn, Vice-President of the Society, and responses 

 by Comptroller Bird S. Coler and Hon. August Moebus, Park 

 Commissioner, the New York Zoological Park was declared, by 

 Hon. Levi P. Morton, President of the Zoological Society, to be 

 open to the public. At that time twenty-two installations for 

 animals were ready, and they contained a total of 843 living 

 specimens. 



