622 .JOVENAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 
The building was opened to the public on 21st October 1909. It remained 
for ten years in charge of the Superintendent of the Museum, till in 1919, it was 
transferred to the Department of Fisheries for the two-fold reason that this 
Department has particular need for the possession of aquarium facilities for the 
prosecution of its investigations into the life-histories of the local food-fishes, 
and because of the greater facilities it has for the renewal of the stock of fish 
and other animals required for the tanks. The change of management has been 
fully justified for measures were at once taken to increase the number and variety 
of the exhibits, to remodel the table aquaria, to instal electric lighting and fans 
and to make the place and its attractions better known. By introducing electric 
light, it became possible to keep the aquarium hall open after sunset, and at 
present the evening has become the most popular time to visit the collection ; 
the brilliant illumination of the tanks shows up the colouring of the fishes to 
greater advantage than when viewed by daylight ; troublesome reflections, 
caused by bright sunshine jxjuring in through doors and ventilators are 
eliminated, and the ideal condition for viewing the inhabitants of the tanks is 
attained — the view from a darkened hall of the tanks lit from behind by 
brilliant lights hidden from the observer. By the use of electric bulbs, such 
flexibility is possible in the lighting arrangements that the illumination of each 
tank can be Studied individually and so lit at the best possible angle. 
In the year when the Fisheries Department took charge, the total number 
of visitors who passed the turnstile w^as 95,957 ; after the installation of lights 
and fans, and the introduction of other improvements the number rose to 163,517. 
To this success the issue of an illustrated handbook has greatly contributed and 
has proved the best possible means of advertisement. The first edition of 1,500 
copies, priced at the nominal charge of one anna, issued in October 1919, W'as 
exhausted within four months. A second edition of 5,000 copies, and consider- 
ably enlarged, but still priced at the same low' figure was issued in February 
19^, and was in turn exhausted by' the end of 1921, when a third English edition, 
again revised and enlarged to 39 pages, w’as published. This actually costs to 
produce thrice the price charged but for the sake of its educational V'alue and for 
the advertisement it affords. Government have sanctioned its continued sale 
at the original and popular price of the single anna. In addition to the English 
I edition, a Tamil translation has been published but curiously enough the 
English edition continues to be the favourite with Indian visitors. Two rates of 
admission to the Aquarium are charged, six pies and four annas, in order to 
jjermit the poorest to have an opportunity to visit it and also to allow the better 
classes to have the advantage of seeing it under less crowded conditions than 
otherwise would be possible. From 2 to 5-30 p.m. admission is half an anna, at 
all other hours four aimas. On Friday's the charge throughout the day' is at the 
higher rate. On the great Indian festivals when thousands flock to see the 
wonders of the local sea, a sp>ecial charge of one anna is made all day'. Finally 
in order that no obstacle may stand in the way of any section of the community' 
visiting it, a gosha day, when ladies only are admitted, is arranged for the 
laLst Monday in each month ; on these days women attendants are in charge of 
the building. 
The Aquarium Hall is a lofty rectangular room, 35'-6' in length by 50'-6" 
wide. To roof this great width, three ridged spans are employed, supported 
on four rows of slender ornamental pillars ; the outside row along each side, i s 
utihzed to carry two heavy brass barrier rails,spaced tw'O feet six inches from the 
front of the tanks. The two short sides are occupied by ten large aquarium 
tanks built into the walls. Four small rooms, with the entrance vestibule and 
turnstiles, form the front side, W'hile a large opening in the middle of tlie rear 
^vall was provided in the original arrangement to jjermit of visitors seeing into 
a deep semicircular open-air pool, intended for such large animals as full-grown 
sharks and turtles which could not be accommodated in the wall-tanks on account 
