8 
THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM JOURNAL. 
GROUND PLAN 
OF THE 
NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 
The direct and immediate purpose of occu¬ 
pying this page of the Journal with perma¬ 
nent illustration of the ground plan of the 
main pavilion, was to accompany it with an 
index or guide to the many interesting objects 
contained in the tanks here shown. By this 
means it is designed that visitors shall have 
directly at hand a convenient directory and 
guide. 
In this, our initial effort, however, we may 
he pardoned a postponement of the principal 
features—that of a classified 
index—while we direct the vis¬ 
itor’s attention to. the size, loca¬ 
tion, and purpose of the tanks 
and their adjuncts. The time 
chosen for tho general survey 
is the more propitious in view 
of the fact that fish, like their 
masters, are to a degree crea¬ 
tures of climate. Hence a guide 
that might direct the visitors to 
their present home might fail to 
be of permanent Talne In a word 
the complete classification and 
arrangement of the fish has not 
yet been accomplished, though 
they are all here, and possibly 
some zest may be added to 
the visitors * efforts if he is 
self. 
Thus much for what may be 
taken for an apology—if one be 
indeed needed—for a seeming 
but intentional neglect; and 
now the visitor,, who has al¬ 
ready been informed as to the 
general features of the Aqua¬ 
rium, will follow us in a detailed 
description of the size, location, 
and purpose of the several 
tanks and ponds. 
Entering at the point indi¬ 
cated we pass along a platform 
slightly raised above the Hue of 
the main floor of the pavilion. 
Beneath this floor, and others 
adjacent to it, are the boiler, 
engine and pump rooms, to¬ 
gether with the grand fresh 
water' and marine 
all lime is essential to the life of the inmates. 
Above this wall and sustained by a graceful 
iron frame work is the cr’cular glass front, 
composed of heavy plates of the purest glass, 
each plate being over four feet high and three 
wide. It is designed that this tank shall be 
the home of the whales and other great fish, 
and hence the w r ater level is exposed that the 
visitor may witness the interesting process of 
blowing or spouting. 
Occupying an irregular space of equal area 
with that of the whale tank, is the seal pond 
B, which is surrounded by a low wall of ma¬ 
sonry, but free from glass, as the movements 
of these interesting creatures are best ob¬ 
reservoirs. 
And if the visitor be an enthusiast, as becomes 
all students of Nature, a visit to these subter¬ 
ranean regions would be as full of delight as 
would a disclosure of the living working heart 
b • to the anatomist or surgeon. Having ad¬ 
vanced upon this entrance platform till tho 
main floor is reached, an inspection of the 
tanks in their alphabetical arrangement is in 
order, and to this methodical inspection will 
the remaining time and space be given. 
In the centre of the Hall is the grand circu¬ 
lar whale tank, A, having a diameter of thirty 
feet, and an even height of eight feet. The 
lower wall or base of this tank is solid masonry 
lain in Portland cement, as the absence of 
GROUND PLAN OF THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 
served from above. Returning to the line of 
the front platform, we begin our tour in front 
of the continuous series of wall tanks, so 
named as the exposed surface presents the 
appearance of a glass wall, unobstructed save 
by the needed iron frame work. The first of 
these tanks C has a front of sixty-five feet, a 
length exceeded but in one case by any Aqua¬ 
rium in the world. Here will be confined the 
shark, porpoise, sturgeon, and other of the 
larger forms of marine life. Passing on lo 
angle marked by the concealed store tank D 
we reach the upper.end of a continuous line 
of tanks similar in construction to C but vary¬ 
ing in me 5 tho first throe, as well as tho 
distant ones R, S, Y, are fronted by single 
plates four feet in width and five in height 
The tanks of this series are lined, with rock- 
work, and the three mentioned will be devoted 
to the use — or if we may use the term—the 
cultivation of the numerous class to which the 
sea-anemonies belong, and when fully stocked 
will rival if not excel in interest their more 
pretentious neighbors. 
The net three tanks, H, I, J, are larger in 
size, and together with the still wider tank K 
will be devoted to the larger fresh water fish. 
This tank, K, together with the remaining 
three in the centre, L, M, 1ST, are each ten feet 
/n width and eight feet high ; they are also 
lined with rock-work. Beyond 
the central four are the six re¬ 
maining wall tanks which in 
plan and dimensions follow the 
order of the first six. These 
however, together with the tanks 
L, M, N, will be filled with sea 
water and devoted to the more 
rare and attractive forms of 
marine life. 
Turning to the left, after 
reaching the lower end of this 
corridor, we approach a rockery 
and pool designed as the home 
of the sea lions. This abuts 
against the western wall and is 
spanned near the front by a 
graceful rustic bridge from 
which a full view of the >’ 
~~'lT I and side LmksmaV he obtain ;u. 
Descending from this bridge by 
its southern approach we face 
the trout tank Y, aud in front 
of it the trout hatching troughs 
W. Extending from these 
troughs to the entrance plat¬ 
form in two lines are the large 
and small table tanks, twenty, 
five in number, and indicated by 
the small letters in the alphabet, 
aud attached to the side posts 
are other small tanks. Having- 
now determined the location of 
the several tanks, the writer is 
prepared for an examination of 
their contents. 
The descriptive article on the 
fifth page will indicate the me¬ 
chanical and art features of the 
Aquarium, but only a minute 
and attentive examination of all 
its parts will render one familiar with their 
number and the complicate structure of the 
whole building, in the construction of which 
tho best talent, scientific, mechanical, and ar¬ 
tistic has been employed. 
The official direction and management of 
the Aquarium may be indicated as follows : 
tV. C. COUP,.Manager. 
PROF. H. D. BUTLER.Gen’l Snp’t. 
MR. W. 8. WARD.Natural at. 
And Director of Educational Department. 
MR. FRED. MATHER.Sup’t of Fish Culture. 
MR. A. W. ROBERTS. In charge of Fisheries, 
Ft T, YANQE,...Illustrative Artist. 
