TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 123 



several other improvements that would eliminate disadvantages 

 of long- standing, particularly the invasion of the basement by 

 the sea at high tides. 



In the meantime the Aquarium is cumbersome to operate 

 and cramped for space. 



After many years of effort directed toward the elimination 

 of various defects, we find ourselves at a standstill. There is 

 little more that can be done without a fund sufficiently large 

 to enable us to deal with the really serious hindrances that have 

 always confronted us. The cost of the above described improve- 

 ments was estimated at $90,000. 



IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE MAINTENANCE FUND. 



Larger Exhibition Tanks. — The most important improve- 

 ment made in the Aquarium during the year or in fact during 

 the past six years was the enlargement of several glass-fronted 

 exhibition tanks on the ground floor. By combining the original 

 small-sized tanks in pairs, removing the partitions and extending 

 the back walls to the outer wall of the building, it has been possi- 

 ble to construct tanks of large size, similar to those in the larger 

 aquariums of Europe. Some of these enlarged tanks have a 

 length of about fifteen feet and all of them, a depth, back from 

 the glass, of twelve feet. 



The increased water space has made it possible to greatly 

 enlarge the exhibits in each tank. The contents of the old re- 

 serve tanks, formerly located behind the exhibition tanks, have 

 been transferred to the newly enlarged tanks and thus added 

 to the collection on exhibition. The reserve tanks will be located 

 elsewhere and restocked. 



With the return of the next summer's collecting season, it 

 will be possible to stock these tanks to their full capacity, and 

 also to place behind the glass many large specimens that have 

 hitherto been kept only in the large open floor pools. 



Four tanks of large size were constructed during the sum- 

 mer by the employes of the Aquarium, at a cost per tank of not 

 more than $50 for materials. The extra labor thrown on our 

 own force was, however, too great to be continued. By enforc- 

 ing special economies it was possible to accumulate funds suffi- 

 cient for the construction of seven more tanks of large size, for 

 which a contract was awarded on December 7. 



