90 X1--W ^ORK /.()() l.(J(iICAL SOCIETY. 



Might ailditional a(|uariuin tanks have Ijchmi located on tlie main 

 floor between the central series of pillars, which have fnrnished 

 a good means of exhibiting the collection of turtles. A further 

 increase of tank space was secured by placing eighteen small 

 aquaria on the coping of the large cc-ntral ])i)i)l. These su])])ly 

 exhibition space for an attractive collection of marine inverte- 

 brates. .\(Klitional rockwork has been ceiiieiiU'(l into the large 

 exhibition tanks, as backgrounds, and the wdrk of lal)eling the 

 collection has been continued. S])ecial care has been exercised 

 in the ])re])aralion of the labels, which are so complete as to 

 render the use of a formal guide book unnt'cessary to the casual 

 visit" y. 



A \-er\ ri'cent impro\cment of great imporluiice has been the 

 illumination of all wall tanks, with electric lights. This has 

 overcome, in large measure, the darkness of the building during 

 the w iiuer season. The reception room has 1 ecu sri])])lied with 

 rugs, curtains and comfortable chairs, and a number of seiui- 

 circul.'U" seats have been fitted to the outer series of ])illars on 

 the u'.ain tloor. The admirable colored ])lates of the lishcs of 

 Tort » Uico and Hawaii, issued l)y the I'. S. Fisheries Bureau, 

 have been framed in groups and placed on exhibition, together 

 with certain tabulated information on the fishing industries of 

 the I'nile 1 States. 



In tlu' service galleries and elsewhere behind the scenes the 

 work of im])rovement has been carried on almost continuously; 

 alterations have been made to lessen the cost of operation, in- 

 crease light, provide for reserve specimens, and utilize waste 

 space. A vah-able bronze ])um]) has been added to the e(|uip- 

 nient of the new sea-water system. 



The readiness of the l)ei)artment of Parks and the I'xiard of 

 Estimate and Ap])orlioument to a])])row the issue of bonds 

 requested for the im])rovement of the .\(|uarium has been most 

 gratifying. 



.\'iri".M).\\ti-:. 



'J'lie attendance for 11J04 was 1,(^)23.770. an increase over i(;(\^ 

 amounting to y/.^/'-)- 



'I'he average daily atlendancc' during ihr _\ear was 4.454. 



The number of visit(jrs present on Sundaxs during the summer 

 months was very large, records of 11.000 to 14.000 being com- 

 mon. The building was o])en to the public two hours longer each 

 day during the sununer season, while ihe baltdax closing on 

 Thursdav was discontinued earK in the \ear. 



