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~HAMLYN’S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
Steinhart Aquarium, Golden 
Gate Park, San Francisco. 
By FrRepEeRICcK W. D’ EVELYN. 
Work on the new Aquarium will commence 
early this year. A quarter of a million dollars 
will be expended on the Aquarium and its equip- 
ment. Dr. Barton W. Everman, Director of the 
Academy of Sciences, of which the Aquarium will 
be a unit, is now in the East, accompanied by 
Engineer Ronnenberg, investigating’ aquaria, and 
securing latest data concerning tank construc- 
tion, aeration, filtration, and allied problems es- 
sential to successful installation and maintenence 
of the tanks and pools. 
The Aquarium will be centrally located, in 
the famous Golden Gate Park, and purposes to 
have accommodation for the most unique and 
comprehensive collection of exhibits ever before 
assembled. Special pools for tropical fish, with 
arrangements for temperature, cover and culti- 
vation, will be given prominence in the construc- 
tion of the Aquarium. Large basins fed directly 
from the ocean, 3 miles distant, are being pre- 
pared for fur seals, sea lions and allied species 
which already have their habitat on Pacific shores 
but constitute a class of specimens around which 
ever centres legends of romance and weirdness. 
Further, in proximity to the renowned seal rocks, 
the barking of whose occupants will be within 
ear-shot of the traveller sand visitors as they 
patronise the Aquarium, constitute a localsed 
assocation which is perennial in its interest and 
novelty. 
Many of the patrons of the G.G. Park some- 
what regret that the Aquarium was not estab- 
lished n the beach where the waves of the Pacific 
actually break upon the part shore line, claiming 
that the natural surroundings, the vista of ocean 
and distance and sky, constitute a special sett- 
ing which is as superb as it is uncommon. There 
is much in this appeal. However thus situated, 
the Aquarium would have been detached from the 
Academy Museum, would have been less easy of 
access, and possibly too much exposed to wind 
and storms, which even the blue Pacific is no 
amateur in staging when the spirit moves. it. 
Time will certainly confirm {that the sheltered 
arena of the mid-park will have proven more 
conducive alike to the welfare of the inhabitants 
and the comfort of the visitors. 
Laboratories and research departments will 
be added to as it is purposed to make the Aquar- 
ium not merely one of the sights of the Pacilc 
slope, but also a headquarters for scientile in- 
vestigation directly associated with oceanic flora 
and fauna so easily here obtainable. 
“ 
~“ 
King Albert of Belgium has testified his 
acceptance to Honorary Membership of Life As- 
sociate, stating that “it is with greatest pleasure 
that he registers his name with this most excel- 
lent undertaking, linked as it will be with mem- 
ories of your country which he will ever enjoy 
and cherish.” 
Photos and other data will be forthcoming 
at an early date. 
—&——_ 
Performing Animals. 
Mr. Walter Winans writes as follows from 
the Carlton Hotel, Pall Mall, S.W.1., February 
15th, 1920':— 
Dear Sir,—I think it right to warn animal 
dealers and circus proprietors that a Society has 
been formed whose object is to try and pass 
an Act of Parliament to make performing animals 
illegal. 
I heard such a meeting was to take place at 
Caxton Hall a few weeks ago. 
I wrote to the Secretary pointing out that 
if performing horses was made illegal then the 
training of cavalry horses would also be illegal, 
because what the audience call performing or 
“dancing” at a circus, is merely what every well 
broken cavalry horse is taught. 
I also said I would a thousand times rather 
sell an old favourite horse to a circus than for it 
to be worked in the streets, overloaded, slipping 
and falling on the tarred concrete roads, and 
asked him to read my letter at the meeting. 
I went to the meeting and after a lot of the 
usual talk about matters none of the speakers had 
the faintest knowledge of, the meeting was about 
to close (after passing a resolution ithat the 
audience should get all Members of Parliament 
to promise to stop all performing animal turns) 
when I got up and asked to be allowed to say a 
few words. 
As the Secretary had not read my letter, I 
asked him to do so to the meeting; I repeated 
to the audience what I have written above. 
T added that it was absolutely useless to try 
and have the training of horses stopped by law, 
as that would stop the training of cavalry horses 
also, and no horse would be of any use. 
I asked the audience if they would drive in 
a carriage without the horse being previously 
“trained” or if they could ride on its back. 
I asked, ‘Why should horses not be 
trained 2?” 
