ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1419 



The administrative work of the Aquarium is 

 carried on without adequate space. It is very 

 important that a third story be added to the 

 north side of the building. This addition will 

 greatly improve its external appearence, as will 

 be seen by a glance at the architect's sketch of 

 the front elevation presented herewith. An ex- 

 amination of the ground plan of the Aquarium, 

 reproduced in this Bulletin, will serve to show 

 the large amount of space that can be reclaimed 

 for exhibits, by the removal of the boiler and 

 pump rooms — a space that amounts to about 

 one-fifth of the circular portion of the building. 



The plans described above have been ap- 

 proved b}^ the Executive Committee of the 

 Zoological Society and the Commissioner of 

 Parks, and an application for the issue of cor- 

 porate stock for these expenses is now pending 

 before the Board of Estimate. 



Public spirited citizens have been very gener- 

 ous to the up-town museums, and might do much 

 for the development of the Aquarium if it were 

 better housed and could present a better appear- 

 ance. The excellence of the collections in the 

 Aquarium can not entirely compensate for the 

 structural defects of the wretched and outworn 

 building which houses them. 



The various handicaps under which the daily 

 work of this popular institution has been done, 

 are at once apparent to any one who inspects 

 the building. Space for working equipment, 

 for instance, is so limited that supplies are 

 stowed in out-of-the-way corners ; the entire 

 attic is a fire trap ; the refrigerating plant is 

 dangerous ; the pipe galleries are exposed to 

 high tide. In fact, the establishment is open 

 to criticism in practicallj^ all its branches, and 

 the only remedy lies in a much more radical 

 improvement of the unsightly old Castle 

 Garden building than has yet been permitted. 



LARGER EXHIBITION TANKS AT THE 



AQUARIUM. 



By C. H. TowNSEND. 



IT has long been recognized that the glass- 

 fronted exhibition tanks of the Aquarium as 

 originally constructed, are too small, both 

 for the comfort of their occupants and for the 

 best effects in the exhibition of aquatic animal 

 life. 



The larger tanks, located on the main floor 

 of the building, are not more than seven feet in 

 length, with a depth back from the glass fronts, 

 of four feet. The still smaller tanks of the 

 balcony, constructed of wood, serve fairl}'^ well 



for the keeping and exhibition of small forms. 

 The main floor tanks being of heavy masonry 

 construction, it was always considered inadvis- 

 able to enlarge them. Their defects were such, 

 however, that it seemed worth trying, and seven 

 of them have already given place to four tanks 

 of ample size. 



This improvement was accomplished without 

 the expenditure of special funds, the work being 

 done by Aquarium employes as opportunity af- 

 forded. The first large tank was completed in 

 April and the fourth in October. Being built 

 of re-enforced concrete, the principal outlay has 

 been for cement and other materials. The cost 

 for each tank has been a little less than fifty 

 dollars. 



The method of enlarging was to combine two 

 tanks, by removing the partition between them, 

 as well as their back walls ; setting the latter 

 twelve feet back from the glass. 



This extension of the exhibition tanks in- 

 volved the removal of the reserve tanks behind 

 them, but the latter are no longer required as 

 their occupants now enjoy the increased space 

 afforded by the new tanks, and thrive accord- 

 ingly. 



The under-water effect of the enlarged tanks 

 is excellent and is much appreciated by visitors. 

 The increased space has made it possible to 

 exhibit sharks and sturgeons behind glass, that 

 formerly had to be kept in the large open pools 

 on the ground floor. 



The wreck of an old boat in one of these large 

 tanks has proved to be an interesting accessory. 

 It was discovered recently during excavations 

 for the subway at the intersection of Greenwich 

 and Dey streets, where it has reposed for gen- 

 erations. The parts exhibited in the Aquarium 

 consist of the forepart of the keel, stem, several 

 ribs just back of the stem, and portions of the 

 planking of the hull. It was presented to the 

 Aquarium by direction of Mr. T. P. Shonts. 



A MANATEE FROM THE AMAZON. 



THE fresh water manatee of the upper 

 Amazon, (Manatus inunguis) has been 

 exliibited alive in Europe, but the speci- 

 men now at the Aquarium is the first to be 

 shown in this country. 



It was purchased on the Amazon for the 

 Aquarium by Capt. R. H. Terrible of the Booth 

 Line Steamer "Stephen," and arrived in New 

 York on July 3, 1916, in excellent condition. 

 During the vovage it was kept in a I'oomy tank 



