REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



OF THE 



AQUARIUM 



TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. 



THE improvement of the Aquarium building, under the 

 auspices of the New York Zoological Society, made de- 

 cided progress during the past year. 



The construction of a large reservoir for pure sea-water, the 

 enlargement of sky-lights generally, and the alteration of un- 

 sightly features of construction were all accomplished by means 

 of an issue of $30,000 of bonds, granted by the city in 1903. 



A further issue of $40,000 of bonds was made in 1904, for 

 the construction of pipe galleries underneath the building, the 

 installation of salt-water filters, a heating and ventilating system, 

 and other improvements. The work on the first two features 

 is well under way. When completed it will permit of the new 

 reservoir being put into use, and also the renewal of all worn- 

 out piping connected with the floor pool and heating system. 

 All the piping of the floor pools and heaters was originally buried 

 in the earth underneath the building, where repairs have been 

 impossible. Prompt attention to this matter became imperative. 

 The work of excavating under the building was also necessary 

 on acccamt of the fact that the earth under one of the floor pools 

 had settled so that the foundation of the pool needed strengthen- 

 ing. All this work is being thoroughly done, so that in the 

 future all the piping in the building will be accessible for repairs. 

 A new iron and glass vestibule for the main entrance is under 

 construction. 



Numerous improvements in the building and its equipment 

 have been continued from the maintenance fund. Among these 

 may be mentioned additional painting, the placing of foot rails 

 around all floor pools, afifording children better views than have 

 been possible heretofore; the construction of a photographic 

 room, and an attic room for the care of palms and other orna- 

 mental plants. This room, well supplied with skylights, will 

 serve also at times as a place for keeping turtles, which do not 

 flourish in the exhibition tanks, where they are cut off from sun- 

 light. 



