TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT 



115 



ATTENDANCE. 



For the first time in many years the Aquarium has suffered 

 a serious decrease in the number of visitors. There was a slight 

 decrease in 1914 but the attendance did not fall below the two- 

 million mark which was passed in 1906. The falling off in visit- 

 ors in 1914 was attributed to conditions resulting from the war 

 in Europe. 



After the commencement of the war there was a general 

 decrease in transatlantic steamship travel and in immigration, 

 both of which served to limit the number of persons annually 

 passing through New York City. These conditions continue. 

 The twelve months of war of 1915 as compared with five months 

 in 1914 produced a still more marked effect. Immigration from 

 Europe has nearly ceased, and the legion of tourists going 

 abroad has been reduced to a small remnant. 



The attendance for 1915 was 1,538,831, a decrease of 490,- 

 876 as compared with 1914. The daily average of visitors was 

 4,215. 



TABLE OF ATTENDANCE. 



Total 



1,538,831 



4,215 



AN OUTSIDE PUMPING PLANT. 



As there appears to be little prospect of a larger building 

 for the Aquarium within a reasonable number of years, it seems 

 desirable to reconsider the plan for an outside machinery plant 

 to gain space for exhibits. The space occupied by the boiler 



