1178 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX. 



oxygenated by living Vallisneria, the remaining eight tanks contain salt 

 water, which circulates from tank to tank and in addition are supplied 

 with air from two compression cylinders, forced into each tank through a 

 Berkfield filter candle. At present the cylinders are filled by hand pumps, 

 but the use of an oil engine is contemplated. Seawater is conveyed to a 

 covered well in the rear of the Aquarium along a pipe filled by hand at the 

 seaward end. From the well it is pumped into filter beds, and from these 

 passes to large elevated cisterns, whence it is distributed to the tanks. 

 The shore water on the Madras Coast is so disturbed by the surf that this 

 Alteration is unavoidable at present, though the removal thereby of small 

 organisms is undoubtedly a drawback. The water which has circulated 

 through the Aquarium tanks can, if desired, be brought back to the filter 

 beds and vised a second time. 



The Director of the Aquarium is the Superintendent of the Madras 

 Museum, and he is assisted by a small local Committee. 



The number of visitors at first was something like 1,100 a day and even 

 now some 400 to 600 persons a day visit the Aquarium. A small admis- 

 sion fee is charged (-| an anna) and one day in the week is reserved for 

 the upper classes who pay 4 annas each, and one day is reserved for 

 purdah ladies. The number of visitors from 21st October 1909 to 31st 

 March 1910, was 100,463 and the amount realised in admission fees was 

 Us. 3,330-4-6. The largest number of visitors on a single day was 3,436. 



The staff consists of 3 keepers, 2 door-keepers and coolies costing about 

 Us. 100 per mensem, so that at present it may be considered as self- 

 supporting. 



The magnificent colours and wonderful shapes of many of the fish form a 

 most attractive display. The exhibits include Sea-snakes {Enliydvina and 

 species of Distira) and among the fish species of the following : — 



Ginglymostoma-, Stegostoma (Tiger sharks), Chiloscyllium, Mursena 

 (Eels), Arius, Therapon Se'rranus, Lutjanus, Myripristis, Trachynotus, 

 Pterois, Caranx, Antennarius, Heniochus, Julis, . Teuthis, Balistes, and 

 Tetrodon. The invertebrates comprise cuttle fish, holothurians, hermit 

 crabs (Clibanarius), swimming crabs (Scylla and Neptunus), lobsters 

 (Panulirus), prawns (Penceus), etc. 



All the specimens had been taken on the Madras Coast within a few 

 miles of the Aquarium. 



Fish are brought in by paid fishermen who, however, will not bring in 

 live edible fish. Rs. 5 has been offered for a live pomfret without success 

 and none of the common edible fish appear to be procurable. 



Feeding. — Owing to the fact of the water being filtered artificial food 

 has to be supplied and lumps of raw fish are given every afternoon. 



Many of the details given here were kindly sent him by Professor P. F. 

 Fyson of the Presidency College, Madras, who also forwarded some rough 



