ZOOLOGISCHER GARTEN, HAMBURG 97 



of time and money, especially at the beginning. The 

 Directors, however, were not discouraged, as they were 

 helped not only by large presents of animals, but also 

 of building materials, etc. An otter basin was paid for 

 by Baron von Merck, who, with other gentlemen, gave 

 an important contribution to the bear pit. The main 

 entrance-gate, the wapiti house, the seal enclosure, the 

 tapir house, the antelope house, and the drainage 

 system of the grounds were all given by various indi- 

 viduals. The ladies of Hamburg and Altona opened a 

 subscription, which resulted in the building of an 

 ostrich house. 



In November, 1862, the greater part of the build- 

 ings were finished. The Directors, however, were 

 obliofed to issue more shares in order to enable them 

 to make other buildings, and especially an aquarium. 

 This new issue of capital was authorized on No- 

 vember 20, and within twenty-four hours the new 

 shares were all taken up. 



On May 26, 1863, the company presented the 

 Garden, brightly decorated for the occasion, to the 

 shareholders, and on the following day it was opened 

 to the public. On July 6, 1863, the Garden suffered 

 an irreparable loss in the sudden death of its Presi- 

 dent, Baron von Merck, who was greatly regretted by 

 the whole of Hamburg. A bust was placed in the 

 concert-hall to commemorate him. 



In 1864 the Direction was authorized to build a 

 Winter Garden and a large restaurant. The aquarium, 

 a rectangular building 26 by 11 metres in size, was 

 opened April 26, 1864. The floor is laid deep under 

 the surface of the earth to insure an even temperature 



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