SCIENCE. 



85 



SCIENCE: 



A Weekly Record of Scientific 

 Progress. 



JOHN MICHELS, Editor. 



Published at 

 229 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 

 P. O. Box 3838. 



SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1881. 



INDEX FOR SCIENCE. 



In 'accordance with the promise made in our first number, we 

 have prepared an elaborate Index for Volume One. 



Genera and species are printed in italics ; also the names of re- 

 cently discovered stars. There is a separate Subject and Authors' 

 Index, the whole having 4576 distinct references. "Science" 

 thus becomes a valuable standard work of reference, which should 

 be found in every library. The Index has been sent to regular 

 subscribers ; others can obtain it on payment of twenty cents. 



THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

 With the closing of the New York Aquarium the 

 city wilFlose an institution that might have been 

 made a source of instruction to the people, combined 

 with an agreeable place of recreation, and the causes 

 of its failure to be remunerative may be studied with 

 advantage by those who desire to have a permanent 

 public aquarium in this city, thriving on a paying 

 basis. 



We observe that the present proprietor, Mr. Charles 

 Reiche, makes the assertion "that such a place is not 

 appreciated by the people." We consider that such a 

 statement has been amply refuted by the very fair 

 amount of patronage received, even at a price for 

 admission which was practically prohibitory to the 

 majority of those who would have visited the place in 

 thousands. 



Neither do we believe that the faults of the man- 

 agement can be charged with the failure, and we 

 have as little faith in the other reasons which have been 

 suggested. In our opinion the whole enterprise was 

 killed by being loaded down with heavy expenses, and 

 too profuse expenditure by those who controlled the 

 finances. 



Unfortunately, there was too much money at com- 

 mand from the start, and by the time experience of the 

 proper course to pursue had been gained, the capita 

 had been squandered, and the demoralization which 

 finally led to the ruin, had set in. 



To saddle the enterprise with a rental of $10,000 a 

 year for the bare ground on which the building stood 

 was to court ruin, but all the outlays were made on 

 the same extravagant basis. Then came the fatal 

 mistake of appealing for support to the few affluent, 

 and making each admission fifty cents, instead of 

 trusting to the multitude who could and would have 

 paid twenty-five cents. 



Even under these circumstances we are now told by 

 Mr. Reiche that for a time it did pay. We think this 

 very convincing proof that under more economical 

 management and with a less pretentious establish- 

 ment, success would have been secured. 



On behalf of many scientific men, we extend our 

 thanks to Mr. Reiche for the liberal facilities he has 

 throughout extended to those who desired to visit and 

 make use of the aquarium for scientific purposes ; to 

 such the place has always been open and a cordial 

 welcome given. Under instructions, the officers in 

 charge have been courteous in offering the fullest 

 facilities for study and freely gave such specimens as 

 could be spared. How little such opportunities have 

 been appreciated and used by naturalists within reach 

 of the institution reflects little credit on those who 

 should have seized the occasion with avidity. 



Unfortunately the facilities were too great, and too 

 conveniently at hand to be appreciated, and because 

 they were offered as a gift they were neglected. The 

 New York Aquarium had the benefit of the services 

 of the best professional collectors in this country, and 

 the coast from Maine to Florida was constantly 

 searched for living species of rare and interesting 

 forms of animal life, and yet many naturalists preferred 

 to waste their time and money, travelling hundreds of 

 miles, to obtain objects which could be had at their 

 very doors. 



The same results have happened in Europe under 

 similar circumstances. When Mr. Lloyd, of London, 

 was asked if he thought the aquarium at the Chan- 

 nel Islands would answer, he replied, that he feared 

 it was too near home, too convenient of access ; for 

 said he, " I have known persons prefer to travel from 

 to the Bay of Naples to collect specimens, which I 

 had in my aquarium at the Crystal Palace." 



We trust that steps may be taken to preserve the 

 fittings of the New York Aquarium, and that they may 

 be replaced in some part of the city where a site will be 

 inexpensive, and that a plan may be arranged for main- 

 taining it on a remunerative basis, which in our opin- 

 ion should not be a difficult matter; but to secure 

 success we should advise the institution to be placed 

 in the charge of some well-known professional nat- 

 uralist, who could be well named by Professor Spencer 

 F. Baird. 



