86 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



heating water from the warm underground reservoir, and that 

 pumped directly from the harbor in the winter months. The 

 reservoir wih eventuahy pay for itself. 



The difficulties encountered in the heating of sea water, b\- 

 means of iron and bronze heaters which corrode and break down, 

 have apparently been solved by the employment of a heavy coiled 

 heater made of chemical lead. It has already lasted nuich longer 

 than others previously tried and appears to be in perfect con- 

 dition. Xo other aquarium has the problems to contend with 

 that have developed here, where sea water is heated in winter 

 for tropical species, and fresh water refrigerated in summer for 

 northern species. With warm and cold tanks of both fresh and 

 salt water, it has four distinct water systems regularly in use. 



The Aquarium is not only ready to do anything that is possible 

 in public aquariums elsewhere, but probably something more, 

 and with the return of another summer collecting season, inter- 

 esting forms of sea life will occupy many of the tanks as perma- 

 nent exhibits. About 200 species of fishes are usually kept 

 in our 94 glass-fronted tanks, and number from 3.000 to 4,000 

 specimens of native marine- and fresh-water species and tropical 

 species from the Bermuda Islands. These figures do not include 

 the product of the fish-hatchery. The collection of invertebrates 

 is as yet limited to local marine forms, but will later include 

 tropical species of showy colors. The large floor pools contain 

 seals, sea-lions, alligators, crocodiles, large sea-turtles and stur- 

 geons. The table aquaria usuall\' contain about twent\- species 

 of fresh-water turtles. 



During September the large central pool contained two por- 

 poises and a leatherliack sea-turtle, the latter weighing 840 

 pounds. Unfortunately some of the lung-breathing marine ani- 

 mals are not adapted to a long life indoors, and it is perhaps un- 

 wise to repeat experiments with such as are aft'ected by warm 

 air when the building has to be heated. 



Exchanges of fishes were made during the year with the De- 

 troit Aquarium, the Sportsmen's Show in lloston and with tlie 

 Tuxedo Club. 



Tropical fishes were brought from llermuda, and local sea fishes 

 were procured by sending tanks tt) the fishing banks on the 

 steamer ''Angler." Nearly all other specimens obtained during 

 the year were gathered by the collector. ]\lr. John DeNyse, 

 or by seining ])arties sent out from the A(|uarium {o various parts 

 of the lower bay and to i)ark lakes of .\e\v Wnk and lirooklyn. 



