12 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



was no indication of waning interest on the part of the 

 13,500 visitors who paid for admission. The number of 

 copies of the ' Guide to the Aquarium ' sold also shows 

 a considerable falling off. We have abundant evidence, 

 however, that this ' Guide ' has been regarded by many 

 visitors as a welcome addition to the popular literature 

 of Marine Biology. 



" Owing to the continued growth of living organisms 

 in the circulation pipes, to which reference was made in 

 last year's Report, it was found necessary to take down 

 and thoroughly clean the whole system. This was done 

 during the months of Xovember and December, 1908; 

 and at some points, especially the bends, the bore of the 

 pipe was found to be almost completely obstructed by 

 colonies of barnacles, mussels, and other molluscs. Before 

 re-erection the lengths of piping were provided with 

 flanges at their ends, so that it is now possible to remove 

 and clean any length without disturbing the neighbouring 

 ones. 



" The tanks have been maintained in excellent con- 

 dition by the Assistant Curator, and the mortality 

 amongst the fishes and invertebrates has been quite 

 insignificant. The largest conger has now been an 

 inhabitant of the aquarium for nearly 4^ years, and has 

 attained a length of exactly G feet.* Another specimen, 

 about 4 feet long, is the ' oldest inhabitant,' having 

 occupied the same tank for over five years. 



" The hatching season of 190!) fully justified the 

 anticipation expressed by the Curator in last year's 

 Report. The number of plaice larvae hatched and 

 liberated, 7,124,500, was nearly double that of the 

 previous year, and brings the total number for the six 



* This fish died on Friday, December 3rd. Us length was exactly 

 6 feet; maximum girth, 2 feet ; weight, 5<H lbs. 



