REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 

 AQUARIUM TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. 



THE New York Aquarium as a place of recreation for the 

 people, has inorc than fulfilled the expectations of the City 

 that founded it. In twelve years it has been visited by nearly 

 twenty-two millions of persons. Its yearly attendance, never 

 less than one and a half millions, has steadily increased until 

 the present time, the number of visitors for 1908 being 2,536,147 

 — an average of almost seven thousand a day. 



Under the management of the Xew York Zoological Society, 

 which has for six years been engaged in improving its equipment 

 and exhibits, its yearly attendance has increased by a full million 

 of visitors. 



The plans of the Society for the betterment of the institution 

 are being steadily carried into effect, and it is now on an excellent 

 basis for the wellbeing of its aquatic life and the satisfaction of 

 the people who visit it. 



The City has recently granted a new improvement fund of 

 $5,000 to be used chiefly for a new roof and enlarged skylights. 

 The latter improvement will nearly double the amount of light in 

 the building and will contribute not only to the comfort of 

 visitors, but to the health of animals kept in the large floor pools. 



The work completed during the past year has given the Aqua- 

 rium a splendid sea-water system, which makes possible the keep- 

 ing of many marine forms, hitherto not exhibited here. An un- 

 derground reservoir of 100.000 gallons capacity was filled with 

 ocean water early in July, since which time marine species have 

 been kept in healthful condition. Still more attractive features 

 of sea life will be added next spring, when our collections will 

 be more varied in character than has been possible with the old 

 water system. The sea-water reservoir is demonstrating its value 

 in other ways : Since it was put into operation in July there has 

 been a notable saving of animal life, the loss of specimens due to 

 foul water having been largely eliminated. Losses of specimens 

 at present are due chiefly to fighting among the occupants of the 

 tanks for which there is no remedy. 



The saving in coal was also important, amounting from Oc- 

 tober I to December 31 to 147 tons as compared with the same 

 months of previous years. There is a vast dift'erence between 



