40 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



lights have been provided, so as to illumine the wall tanks and 

 the central floor pools. Other alterations have been made in 

 the interior, and a reservoir for warm and pure salt water is be- 

 ing constructed in Battery Park near the Aquarium. When this 

 tank is completed it will effect a radical improvement in the 

 condition of the collection of marine fishes and invertebrates. 



The Aquarium building has been painted throughout, with 

 especial reference to the satisfactory exhibition of the collections. 

 All the above work has been very satisfactorily conducted under 

 the direction of Messrs. Barney & Chapman, architects, who have 

 been employed by the Committee for these alterations in the 

 Aquarium. A further bond issue will ultimately be needed to 

 provide for an additional exterior tank for salt water, and for a 

 new water supply, heating and ventilating system. The bond 

 issue provided for 1903 proved inadequate to supply these items. 



The collections themselves have greatly increased in value dur- 

 ing the year, and now number 2,000 living specimens. A fish 

 hatchery was installed early in the year, and was a source of great 

 interest to visitors. More than two million young fishes were 

 raised in this hatchery, and distributed in State waters. 



The Zoological Society, on taking over the Aquarium, found 

 all the tanks lined with glaring white tile, producing an unpleas- 

 ant effect on the visitor, and not properly exhibiting the col- 

 lections. These tiles have been replaced by rockwork, represent- 

 ing as nearly as possible the natural surroundings of each fish. 

 This substitution of rockwork, the design being varied in each 

 tank, has greatly improved the appearance of the Aquarium, and 

 rendered imperative an additional supply of light. 



In addition to these items, a great number of minor im- 

 provements and changes have been made, and will continue to 

 be made during the present year. When the outdoor tanks are in 

 full working operation, and proper filtering can be provided for 

 water, both salt and fresh, the Aquarium will be entirely trans- 

 formed. Various other improvements are in contemplation, and 

 will be made as fast as money can be provided for the purpose. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



The Committee desires to acknowledge its great obligation to 

 Hon. John E. Eustis, Park Commissioner for the Borough of The 

 Bronx, for his assistance in the development of the Zoological 

 Park, and to Hon. William R. Willcox, President of the Park 

 Board, in connection with the Aquarium. Acknowledgments 



