ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



"3 



([uitr unique aniwug tlic institutidiis in t 

 (.iiuntry, in possessing two living spcciuu-ns 

 this rare and interesting reptile. 



In eaptivity the Bushmaster usually refuses 

 footl, hut as these specimens will be at first : 

 forcihl)' to strengtlien them after the shock tl 

 attentls the capture of such nervous ci-eatur 

 it is hoped that they will ultimately Iced a 

 thrive, as has the Fer-de-lance that wdl slu 

 their cage. 



THE MAINTENANCE OF AN AQUARIUM 

 EXHIBIT. 



An astonishing nunilxT iif visitors to the New York 

 Aquarium after viewing its collection of two thousand 

 specimens, representing nearly two hundred species, 

 crowded into one hundred tanks, are constantly inquiring 

 why octopus, white whales, sea-cows, man-eater sharks, 

 and a host of other marine animals they have heard of are 

 not exhibited. Consequently it is desirable to give readers 

 of tlie Bulletin some idea of the obstacles encountered in 

 maintaining an aquarium collection. 



It is much more difficult to jirocure and keep /;;■;>(§• ani- 

 mals than dead ones, as the former are harder to catcli, 

 transport, feed and maintain under proper c<mditions, than 

 tlie preserved specimens of a museum, and this is truer in 

 tile case ot an aquarium tlian in that of a zixihjg'"' .il garden. 

 'I'he difficulties might be mentioneii in part as follows: 



Capture of the animals without injury; transportation by 

 wagon and rail without injury; the delicate nature of many 

 species; the supply of proper food; sufficient water space 

 for freedom of movement; necessary high temperature for 

 tropical species; necessary low temperature for northern 

 species; absence of scientific knowledge respecting the dis- 

 eases of fishes; expense of catching and transporting large 

 specimens; unforseen accidents which may stop the pumps 

 or foul the water supply, and not least the enthusiasm of 

 visitors, who strike at the tanks with hats or newspapers 

 to frighten the specimens into wild dashes which kill or 

 bruise them. 



In tile capture i>l specimens it is almost impossible to 

 make fislurmen understand the necessity of careful hand- 

 ling. I'erhaps fifty per cent, of all fishes taken alive for 

 e.\hibition are lost during the first two or three weeks, the 

 first loss being at the time of capture, the second during 

 transportation, and the third resulting from the develop- 

 ment of injuries received. Even among sound specimens 

 that have become accustomed to the tanks, there is a further 

 percentage of loss from month to month on account of the 

 fisli fighting among tlu-mselves. while, even with constant 

 care, the w.iter siip|>ly ami it^ changes in temperature may 

 give trouble. 



Large fishes are very ilifficult to transport, as well as to 

 catch. Tanks containing sufficient water to keep them 

 alive iluring shipment are enormously heavy, and as water 

 animals cannot endure the delays of freight service, the 

 bills for expressage are large. Very few living fishes can 

 Ix- shipped without attendance. They must be "personally 

 conducteil," which adds passenger fares to express rates. 

 Where a circulation of water cannot be kept up en route as 

 on steamers, the tanks must be aerated artificially, and 

 water added by any means available. It costs more to 

 transport one big sturgeon or shark than five hundred small 

 fishes, and the chances of having something to exhibit in 

 the end .iiv much less. It is cheajier and safer to send a 

 .1 lot of king-crabs to England than to bring one large- 

 sized sturgeon from the Delaware River. 



Nevertheless the New York Zoological Society intends 

 to introduce any large fish, seal, porpoise, manatee or 

 octopus that can be secured. Although funds are limited, 

 go<jd prices have been offered in vain for seals, sturgeons, 

 and porpoises. They are not on the market, but some of 

 them will undoubtedly Ix; secured Ix-fore long. 



The f(K>d of fishes in captivity is varied, consisting of 

 chopped meat, liver, clams and fish, while live food, such 

 as minnows and small crustaceans is supplied as regularly 

 as possible. Manifestly the tropical fishes cannot have 

 their home bill of fare in New \'ork. although considerable 

 expense is incurred in tempting their appetites. The more 

 delicate species gradually die off from lack of proper food, 

 while the hardier kinds atlapt themselves to what the market 

 affords, and the Aquarium collector can pick up ahmg the 

 Coast. Like land animals in captivity, individual fishes 

 may refuse all kind of fixid for weeks. 



Tank space must Ix.' coiisidere<l in all public a<juariums, 

 as active fishes suffer from lack of room for movement, and 

 at times make strong efforts to get out of the tanks. 



Captive fishes are often alarmed by visitors, and a badly 

 frightened fish may die very quickly. A bruised specimen 

 soon develops the dreaiKil fish fungus, which may dis- 

 figure and eventually kill not only the injured fish, but 

 infect and destroy others in the same tank. A fungus which 

 destroys many captive fresh-water fishes, even specimens 

 which have not been outwardly injured, is the plant para- 

 site Saprolignia. It is sometimes possible to destroy this 

 growth by making the water more or less salty, or even 

 dipping the fish for a few moments into a ver)- salty solution. 

 Applications of formalin are fairly effective in mild cases, 

 but fishes cannot endure very strong medicine, and as the 

 delicate skin of the fish may be further injured by handling. 



