SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 91 



tain the number of employees required to operate them. While 

 there are about 40 employees at the Naples establishment perhaps 

 not more than 8 are directly connected with the aquarium ex- 

 hibit, most of them being attendants in the laboratories of the 

 biological department. The station has collectors on its force, 

 providing material for both aquarium and laboratories, but per- 

 haps the bulk of the material placed on exhibition is purchased 

 from the local fishermen. At Brighton, where there is a concert 

 hall and a restaurant, the aquarium attendants probably consti- 

 tute the smallest part of the force. This may also be true of the 

 aquarium at Berlin, which maintains an aviary and other exhibits. 

 The simple but attractive collection at Plymouth is apparently 

 cared for entirely by the custodian, who lives in the building. 

 A natural-history museum occupies a portion of the building 

 of the Amsterdam aquarium. Six persons were found in at- 

 tendance at this aquarium, but doubtless others were available 

 among the employees of the Zoological Garden, of which it 

 forms a part. Perhaps the simplest of all these aquariums is 

 that of the fresh-water aquarium of the Trocadero at Paris, 

 where a single caretaker seemed to be sufficient. 



Although the corridors of European aquariums are usually 

 rather dark, the tanks are well lighted, and as the water is 

 usually clear the collections, wuth their attractive backgrounds, 

 can be viewed satisfactorily. 



All these aquariums, while attractive and popular, have small 

 collections as compared with those of the New York Aquarium, 

 which, wdth its hundred tanks and pools, could probably carry 

 the collections of any two of them with safety. Their combined 

 attendance probably does not equal that of the New York 

 Aquarium, which averages 5,000 visitors a day throughout the 

 year. Doubtless the fact that the New York Aquarium, with 

 its very large collection of native and tropical fishes, is main- 

 tained free to the public accounts for its very large attendance. 

 An admission fee is charged at all the European aquariums 

 except that of Paris. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Charles H. Townsend, 



Director. 



December 31, 1902. 



