IRTi'l'.Xril ANNUAL Rl'.l'oir 



M i.\{ IK I M ru()\i:M i-:.\is. 



Amiiii!;- the iiii])n)vciiK'iils made from the .Mainlciiance I'uii'l 

 may be mentioned the extension of the i^^as-li^ht system to a!l 

 tanks on the baleony ; tlie introduction of a steam-heatino^ coil 

 of heavy chemical lead for warming sea water; the galvanizing^'- 

 of all iron gratings on the service gallery to prevent iron rust : 

 the introduction of wicker (rattan) strainers instead of wire to 

 ])revenl iron rtist ; the ])lacing of covers over radiators to throw 

 heat outward and protect painted ])illars, and the filling of the 

 reservoir with sea water, l)rought l)y tank steamer from Sandv 

 Hook Lightship. 



Tile A(|uariimi, notwithstanding the im])rovenu nts affected 

 (hu'ing the past six years, is handicai)ped b_\' its limited space. 

 There is no room for the increase of its collections and it is now 

 difificult to find room for the location of so much as a pump, a 

 filter or coal bunker. In the j)ump room the men have barelv 

 space to move about and the coal-stowage capacit\- is limited to a 

 six-days' supply, which endangers the entire marine collection 

 during heavy snow storms when the delivery of coal is uncertain. 



Grozcfh of Yoiiiio- Sca-Tiirtlcs. — Director A. G. Mayer, of the 

 Marine Biological Laboratorv at the Dry Tortugas, h'lorida, 

 presented in Jtdy numerous young loggerhead turtles newl\ 

 hatched, which in the pure sea water now a\ailal)le at the 

 Aquarium have grown and thrived in capacity. Hitherto all at- 

 tempts to raise young sea-turtles at the Aquarium have proved 

 unsuccessful. The requirements for success seem to be pure 

 sea water at a temperature of about 75 degrees Fahr. and a sunny 

 situation. The food used was chopped clam and fish. In these 

 specimens the average length of carapace was 2)4 inches and the 

 weight ilA ounces. Six months later the average length of cara- 

 pace was 43 2 inches and the weight 9^ ounces. 



Large Lobsters. — Two lobsters (Hoiiianis anicricaniis) of un- 

 usually large size were received at the Aquarium during the year. 

 The first, received on January 2^ from Cranberry Lsles, Maine, 

 weighed 14^ pounds, its length fr(^m tip of antenn.'e to tip of tail 

 being 34 inches. The second specimen, received April 29 from 

 ofT Atlantic Highlands, X. j., weighed 16 pounds. Its extreme 

 length was 34^2 inches, length from top of rostrum to tip of tail 

 i9->4 inches. Both specimens were males. Neither of these 

 lobsters lived more than a few days. It seems ])robable that their 

 loss was the result of packing in ice during shipment. The 

 first specimen was mounted for the Aquarium, the second sent to 

 the American Museum of Natural Historv. 



