SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 35 



of the United States, gave the remainder of the summer to a 

 tour of the aquariums of Europe, in England and various parts 

 of the Continent, faniiharizing himself with the latest develop- 

 ments in the methods of stocking and the care of aquariums. He 

 thus enters upon his position thoroughly equipped for his duties. 

 For the scientific council of the Aquarium, the Society invited the 

 co-operation of the following specialists : Professor Charles L. 

 Bristol, of the University of Xew York, who has been directly 

 interested in the Aquarium for several years; Professor Bashford 

 Dean, of Columbia University, well known for his contributions 

 to ichthyology ; Dr. Alfred G. Mayer, of the Brooklyn Institute 

 of Arts and Sciences, a graduate of Harvard, and formerly asso- 

 ciated with Professor Alexander Agassiz ; Mr. William E. Damon, 

 and Mr. R. M. Shurtleff, both of whom have not only shown a 

 warm interest in the Aquarium, but have considerable practical 

 knowledge of the management of aquaria. All of these gentlemen 

 accepted the invitation, and are now advising wnth 'Sir. Townsend 

 in regard to various questions of administration. 



The actual legal transfer of the Aquarium took place on the 

 31st of October, 1902. The presentation speech on that occasion 

 was made by Hon. William R. Willcox, as follows : 



Professor Osborn, and Members of the Executive Committee of 



the New York Zoological Society: 



When in 1891 the United States Government decided to remove 

 the Emigrant Station to Ellis Island, the question arose, what 

 shall be done wdth Castle Garden? For fully forty years it had 

 been used by the general government for the reception of emi- 

 grants, and for many years before that time as a place of amuse- 

 ment and a gathering hall for large assemblages. Here it was 

 that Lafayette was received on his visit to this country in 1824. 

 Here also the patriot, Louis Kossuth, was welcomed on the occa- 

 sion of his visit in 1851. Originally built>upon the rocks and 

 connected with the shore by a bridge, this structure has been suc- 

 cessively used .as a battery in the early days, as a place of amuse- 

 ment, and as a landing place for emigrants. It was finally opened 

 to the public as an Aquarium by the Department of Parks in the 

 year 1896. For six years, therefore, the people of the City have 

 had the advantages of this Aquarium, and that this privilege has 

 been appreciated is attested by the fact that the yearly attendance 

 during the past three years has been between one and a half and 

 two millions of people. 



But it is not enough that an institution of this magnitude, con- 



