TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 125 



The splendid exhibition tanks created in this way — eleven 

 in number — have entailed no expense aside from the regular 

 maintenance fund. They have quadrupled the swimming space 

 of the tanks and afforded much better conditions of life for their 

 living occupants. 



An equally important point is the increased attractiveness 

 of the display in each tank, the greater depth of water (back 

 from the glass) giving an "under water" effect that is not pos- 

 sible in tanks of small size. The increased tank space also has 

 made it possible to increase the number of species that may be 

 confined together in each tank. 



During the fourteen years that the Aquarium has been 

 under the management of the Zoological Society, it has been 

 improved in many ways, chiefly in its mechanical department; 

 but these improvements are not such as are apparent to the visi- 

 tor, the machinery of operation being largely out of sight. The 

 enlarged exhibition tanks represent an improvement in the exhi- 

 bition of specimens, so marked that it cannot fail to meet with 

 the approval of the public. 



Having been assured bj^ the City Fire Department that the 

 operation of the refrigerating plant in the Aquarium would no 

 longer be permitted until it could be separately and tightly 

 housed against all possible danger to visitors, its removal to a 

 new position became imperative. 



This work will be undertaken at once, as the cold water 

 system must be ready for operation sometime in May. Being 

 a part of the permanent and necessary equipment of the building, 

 its removal and housing should not be chargeable to the main- 

 tenance fund already heavily taxed on account of the increased 

 cost of coal and other supplies. 



In order to make available for salt water exhibits two of 

 the enlarged exhibition tanks of the fresh-water series, an ex- 

 tension of piping was made. When cold weather came, an un- 

 used wooden storage tank was converted into a water heater, 

 which made it possible to exhibit in this water system many 

 local sea fishes not to be found along our shores in winter. 



This improvement will be of great value, as marine species 

 of fishes and invertebrates are much more numerous than fresh 

 water species and should have a larger representation in our col- 

 lection than has hitherto been possible. 



