152 



ZOOLOGICAL S O C 1 K T V BULLETIN 



if left to themselves would make short work 

 of all kinds of seals, and it has been only 

 through the persistent efforts of naturalists 

 that the extermination of the California coast 

 sea-lions has been prevented. The diminution 

 of the salmon of the Pacific Coast has been due 



to human agency. Both sea-lions and salmon 

 were formerly found there in vast numbers. 



When salmon are being canned at the rate 

 of fifteen million dollars' worth a year, it is not 

 exactly logical to blame their decrease to sea- 



FOOD OF FISHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



THE feeding of as large a collection ot 

 fishes as that maintained at the New 

 York Aquarium is a matter involving no 

 small amount of labor and expense. One at- 

 tendant devotes about one half of each day to 

 the preparation of the food, and as there are 

 generally about 2,000 fishes of all sizes and of 

 about 150 different kinds in the tanks, the at- 

 tendants who care for them have enough to do 

 during the afternoon to keep them busy. 



The food consists of meat, fish, clams, 

 sliced, chopped or minced, as may be necessary 



10 suit the size of the specimens. The whole 

 collection is fed carefully in order that there 

 may not be an unnecessary amount of food 

 left unconsumed, which would have to be re- 

 moved to prevent its aft'ecting the water. 



During the month of January, 1904, the food 

 derived from the markets was: Cod, 316 

 potuids ; herring. 2oy pounds : smelt, 88 

 potmds ; beef, 7 pounds : liver, 9 pounds ; a 

 total of 629 pounds of fish and flesh. In addi- 

 tion to this, 6,600 clams were used. This is 

 merely the amount of food purchased. A large 



