BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 285 
would be necessary — at all events safer— to bring tbe temperature up 
gradually. 
At the Cincinnati Exhibition the temperature was raised from 59° to 
70°, a change of 11° in the course of five or six hours, without any 
noticeable effect, on a lot of brook, Loch Leven, and brown trout. 
59.— A N INQIJIKY AS TO THE PROPER METHODS FOB THE CARE OF 
EIVING THINGS HEED FOB FOPUBAB AMUSEMENT AND IN- 
STRUCTION OB FOB PURPOSES OF ISIOEOGSEAE RESEARCH. 
By WILLIAM F. SEAL. 
The object of this paper is simply to provoke inquiry as to the proper 
methods of confinement and treatment of living things — aquatic or ter- 
restrial — whether held simply for popular amusement or for the higher 
purpose of biological research. 
The subject of biological research is one of rapidly-growing impor- 
tance. Aside from the demands of specialists for facilities for pursu- 
ing their investigations, the value of such work in the interest of gen- 
eral education is meeting with wide-spread public recognition, and 
it is now only a question of time when extensive aquaria and vivaria 
will become important and necessary adjuncts to the biological labo- 
ratory. 
In the more practical domain of fish-culture there is a great and as 
yet untouched field and vast possibilities in the introduction and ac- 
climation of foreign fishes and in experiment leading to the possible 
transfer of valuable salt-water species to fresh water by gradual change 
of density, as well as the opportunity for the study of their complete 
life histories. 
Candor compels the acknowledgment that a retrospective review of 
the scientific results attained through the media of zoological gardens 
and large aquaria generally, since their first establishment, would show 
nothing commensurate with the immense outlay involved, and it is a 
question in the minds of many persons of experience in such matters 
whether better results are possible. The writer has arrived at the con- 
clusion that nothing better can be expected under existing methods. 
As before suggested, the object of this paper is simply to provoke 
discussion, leading, if possible, to the establishment of other and better 
methods. The observations of the writer upon animals held in con- 
finement have led him to the conclusion that for purposes of biological 
research — involving the normal discharge of the natural functions — 
psychological influences must be taken into consideration as well as 
those of a purely physical nature, the one having a direct bearing on 
the other. In other words, animals must be provided with homes adapted 
to their varied requirements, instead of being held in what can* only be 
termed prison-pens. 
