54 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OB^ FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Aquarium at Central Station, Washington, D. C. (L. G. Harron in 



charge). 



During the summer the aquaria were thoroughly overhauled, broken 

 glass replaced, and the slate and iron Avork of the salt-water tanks 

 painted with asphaltum to prevent rust; a new trough for carrying 

 off the overflow from the salt-water tanks to the Alter was built, and 

 the salt-water supply, amounting to about 5,000 gallons, was renewed. 



In September the superintendent, assisted by Mr. W. T. Lindsey, 

 commenced the collection of marine specimens at AVilloughb}^ Spit, 

 Ya., near Fortress Monroe, where the shipping facilities are good, and 

 b}' the end of that month 549 specimens, representing 30 species, had 

 been collected and transferred without loss to Washington. In Octo- 

 ber 319 specimens, representing 11 species, including two tropical 

 fishes — the snowy grouper and the big-eye — were brought from Woods 

 Hole, Mass. These with the addition of sea-an6mone and starfish 

 from Gloucester, filled all the available space. The salt-water fishes 

 were carried witliout loss until February, but at that time the water 

 temperature became too low for them, due to inability to circulate it 

 fast enough through the heaters to produce the desired warmth. 

 Aside from this there was little mortality until May, when the death- 

 rate increased on account of the rapid rise in temperature, though a 

 number of specimens, representing 12 species, were on hand at the 

 close of the year. 



As usual, a good exhibit of fresh-water fishes was kept during the 

 summer, consisting principally of species indigenous to the Potomac 

 River and the Chesapeake Bay, with the various ornamental fishes. 

 Most of these specimens have been kept in the aquarium from two to 

 four years. Consignments of brook trout, rainbow trout, steelheads, 

 Atlantic and landlocked salmon transferred from Wytheville, Va., 

 and Craig Brook, Me., in October, Avere exhibited in the aquarium 

 until May, when the temperature rose above 70; the}' were then 

 planted in suitable streams in the vicinity. While in the aquarium 

 they grew verj' rapidly, and when disposed of were more than twice 

 as large as when received from the stations. 



Two species spawned in the aquarium during the j'ear — four yellow 

 perch and two yearling brook trout — but none of the eggs liatched. 



The food used during the year consisted chiefly of beefsteak, beef 

 liver, clams, oysters, and minnows, the principal articles being steak 

 and liver. The meat is prepared for them by first removing the fat 

 and then cutting it in pieces according to the size of the fish. Clams, 

 oj^sters, and minnows are fed only to such fishes as will not take meat 

 when first captured, but all of them learn to eat beef after being in 

 captivity for some time. 



As the water pressure is not sufficient in extremely cold weather to 

 operate the salt-water pump fast enough to keep the temperature 

 where desired, it is recommended that a small engine be installed for 

 this purpose. 



