SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 103 



by sea-water. The ice machine was thoroughly overhauled in 

 preparation for the warm weather. The large underground 

 reservoir of stored sea-water has now been in use three and a 

 half years. This supply of pure water, circulating constantly 

 through the tanks containing marine species, has become an in- 

 dispensable feature of the equipment of the institution. The cost 

 of keeping it warm enough for tropical forms has been a thou- 

 rand dollars a year less than under the old system of pumping 

 cold water from the harbor, while its purity as a medium for 

 marine animals has greatly reduced the cost of stocking with 

 specimens. Several thousand gallons of water are added to it 

 each year to replace losses caused by leakage and evaporation. 

 With a more perfect system of piping and valves the moderate 

 waste by leakage can eventually be eliminated. The frequent 

 bursting of the chemical lead steam-coil used in heating sea- 

 water is now avoided by the introduction of a galvanized steam 

 cylinder covered with lead. 



The explosion of dynamite at Communipaw, Jersey City, 

 February 1, 1911, caused much damage to the skylights and win- 

 dows of the Aquarium building, breaking more than fifty panes 

 of glass. The heav\^ glass of the skylights fell to the floor in 

 many places, but although several hundred people were in the 

 building, fortunately no one was injured. The prompt action of 

 the attendants prevented any rush for the doors, and order in 

 the building was scarcely interrupted. The cost of re-glazing 

 amounted to $208.96. 



The Aquarium was opened to the public at night from ^lay 

 30, 1911, to September 30, 1911, and the average night attend- 

 ance during this period was 1,479. Night opening was made 

 possible through a balance available on account of the Director's 

 salary, and six men were added to the force during that time. 

 The additional cost for lighting was paid bj^ a transfer from al- 

 lowance for fuel. The Aquarium participated in the City Budget 

 Exhibit in October, and loaned the same exhibits to the Chicago 

 Municipal Exposition. The attendance for the year was 2,011,- 

 544, an average of 5,511 a day. The appropriation for the year 

 was $48,000, which is just $1,500 more than it was nine years 

 ago. The sale of postcards, bulletins and other Aquarium pub- 

 lications during the year amounted to $631,81. The illustra- 



