SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 85 



building during the summer. In winter, when the attendance 

 is smaller, the matter of ventilation is not serious. 



For these improvements it will be necessary to secure an ad- 

 ditional appropriation, as the maintenance fund will only be 

 sufficient for the decoration of the exhibition tanks already re- 

 ferred to. 



The balance of the appropriation for the year 1902, turned over 

 to the Society on November ist, was $5,968.64. This sum, with 

 the exception of $8.67, was expended, the expenditures being as 

 follows : 



November. 



Pay-rolls $1,988.16 



General maintenance 451-92 $2,440.08 



December. 



Pay-rolls $2,042.91 



General maintenance 1,476.98 3,519-89 



Total $5,959-97 



Balance maintenance for 1902 $5,968.64 



Expended 5,959-97 



Credit balance $8.67 



The New York Aquarium has always been an institution of 

 great popularity, its attendance throughout the year averaging 

 5,000 persons daily, being somewhat larger in summer than in 

 winter. The number of visitors for November and December 

 was 97,052 and 54,294 respectively. The total number of vis- 

 itors during the year 1902 was 1,700,453. 



The building is open every day in the year, including Sundays 

 and holidays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on the forenoons of 

 Monday and Thursday as previously stated. 



The Society should proceed as rapidly as possible with the 

 improvement of the Aquarium as a place of recreation for the 

 public and with the development of its possibilities along new 

 lines. 



The building itself is an interesting landmark, and was built 

 in 1807 as a fort. In 1822 it became a place of amusement, and 

 was known as Castle Garden. Jenny Lind began singing there 

 in 1850. From 1855 to 1891 it was a landing station for immi- 

 grants, and finally in 1896 was opened to the public as an 

 aquarium. 



