# Midland Naturalist/Volume 01/The Birmingham Aquarium

The Birmingham Aquarium.
By W. P. Marshall, esq., M.I.C.E.
The first step towards the attainment of this desirable object (now about to be realised) was the appointment of a Committee of the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society four years ago, to obtain information on the subject, with the view of promoting an efficient Marine Aquarium in Birmingham; the subject having been introduced by the President, Mr. W. R. Hughes, in an address at the annual soirée of the Society. This Committee, after procuring information from different Aquaria in this country and on the continent, sent a deputation to visit and examine the Crystal Palace Aquarium and the Brighton Aquarium, for the purpose of obtaining practical information about the requirements to be provided for, and specially to enquire into the two different systems of circulation and aeration of the water that are carried out at those places and the results of their working.
In the Crystal Palace Aquarium a constant circulation of the water is maintained night and day throughout the series of tanks, in connection with a large reserve of water in the store tanks, amounting to five times the contents of the show tanks; and the aeration is effected by means of small jets of water under considerable pressure, which are discharged into the top of each tank, and carry down mixed with the water of the jets a quantity of air, which is discharged in the form of countless myriads of bubbles, so minute that they float a long time about the body of the water in the tanks before rising to the surface, and thus present an enormous oxidising surface to the water; and, as a result, the whole mass has a bright, sparkling, almost effervescent appearance. In the Brighten Aquarium the aeration is effected by pumping air into the tanks through pipes of considerable size, from which the air issues in large bubbles that rise quickly to the surface; there is net any actual circulation of the water from one tank to another, and the quantity of water in the reserve tanks bears only a small proportion to that in the show tanks; the water can, however, be renewed, by pumping from the sea, but in consequence of the supply being taken from near the shore the water Is exposed to mixture with sand and other detritus, and requires same time to become clear, In the Crystal Palace Aquarium the original supply of sea water for the tanks continues in use, and does not require any renewal, except ta replace unavoidable waste. All that is needed being the addition from time to time of a small quantity of fresh water to compensate for the gradual loss that takes place from evaporation; the supply of sea water in the store tanks—which are kept in the dark to counteract the tendency to vegetable growth in the water—is so much greater in quantity than the contents of the show tanks, that the water after circulating through them becomes thoroughly restored to a fresh end healthy condition before returning to the show tanks in the course of the circulation.
The result of the examination and enquiry of the Committee was a recommendation of the Crystal Palace system, (which is the plan of ​Mr. Lloyd, the Manager of that Aquarium,) in consequence of their finding the Brighton Aquarium not so successful, zoologically considered, as to the health and condition of the animals, and the clearness of the water in the tanks. The Crystal Palace Aquarium was found to he eminently successful in these respects, the most delicate animals being maintained in perfect health and almost free from those parasitic growths to which they are so subject in confinement, whilst the water m the tanks was beautifully transparent and brilliant. The action of the Committee resulted in a proposal to construct an Aquarium in the basement story of the Midland Institute Building, facing the Town Hall, and plans were prepared by the writer for this purpose under the advice of Mr. Lloyd, who was called in to examine and reported favourably upon the proposal. That proposal, however, had ultimately to be given up, in consequence of it being found impracticable to adapt the existing building satisfactorily for the desired object. The idea in this proposal had been to establish a Public Aquarium pure and simple, with appliances for scientific study and instruction, in close connection with the Public Library and Art Gallery, and supported only by a small admission charge; the original cost of construction being intended to be materially reduced by the circumstance of adapting a portion of an existing building and thus avoiding the cost of erecting a new building.
It was strongly felt to be a very desirable thing for a Birmingham Aquarium to be established, and that the situation of Birmingham, in the centre of the country, far removed from any sea-coast, would cause a Marine Aquarium to be a special attraction there, and that it would be both a source of great pleasure, and an object of elevating character for the large population not only of the town, but also of the "Black Country" neighbourhood, who may be said to have a decided turn for Natural History objects as regards animals, birds, and cottage gardens. The Marine Aquarium, (as remarked by Mr. Hughes in a subsequent paper read before the Natural History Society,) "appeals to the two extremes of society—to the unlettered, who look with wonder and curiosity on strangeness of form and beauty of colour, and to the cultivated, who, from a higher point, regard with profound interest details of structure and affinities and analogies with beings of other times. No greater attraction, or means of intellectual recreation for the working classes of the town and neighbouring mining districts could be devised, because it would he so utterly different from any other existing exhibition, and so suitable as a relief and mental refreshment for those in crowded courts, to whom the sea, with its living wonders, is but a name, No cabinet collection of dried specimens can bring to view such instances, among a thousand others, as the graceful progress of the flat-fishes, or the weird form and muscular contractions of the Cuttle-fish; no picture can rival in colour the markings of the Wrasse, or the living fire of the eyes of the Dragonet; no library can give the student such a clear idea of the inhabitants of the sea from mere description, as can the contemplation of the actual living beings themselves. As a utilitarian agency for the solution of undetermined points in biology, the Aquarium may, in some measure, help in arriving at a ​solution of such problems as how to secure the proper development of and render available those almost innumerable germs of food supply that are produced by sea fishes in general. The Turbot, for instance, produces about fourteen millions of eggs annually, of which not one perhaps in ten thousand reaches maturity, nor one in a million finds its way to our tables. Our knowledge of the laws governing the movements—the appearance and disappearance in certain localities—of the Herring and other fishes, their spawning and time of development, is still obscure; and if we had light thrown upon this subject thousands of tons of valuable food would he available for us. These enquiries cannot be considered visionary, nor the results obtained from them unprofitable, when it is remembered that within the last few years of judicious legislation, the result of accurate knowledge obtained by these researches has so developed the Salmon fishery that, in place of this fish being only obtainable by the few and wealthy, it is now every season so cheap and abundant as to be found on the table of the artisan.”
The idea of the Birmingham Aquarium was ultimately revived in a definite form by the late Mr. Arthur Ryland, (to whom the origination of the Midland Institute was also due,) and he succeeded in enlisting the support ant co-operation of a number of influential gentlemen to a proposal, which led to the formation last rear of a Limited Company for the construction of the Birmingham Aquarium. It was felt that an Aquarium alone could not be made to succeed financially, and it would require to be combined with come other attraction, such as first-class music, and must consequently involve the erection of a large building in some central situation. The great difficulty experienced was the obtaining a suitable site in a sufficiently central situation; but this has been now overcome in a highly satisfactory manner, by obtaining the site of the old Hen and Chickens Hotel, in New Street, (classic ground of the old coaching days,) which is a remarkably favourable situation for ready access of the public, in the principal thoroughfare of the town, and in close proximity to the the railway stations. The hotel will he converted into a first-class restaurant, the largest in the town, and in the rear will be built the Aquarium, with a spacious and convenient Concert Room above it, affording facilities for concerts that have been long felt to be much needed it the town.
The Aquarium will consist of a large, handsome Hall, upwards of 100 feet in length, with a series of tanks extending along each side, and forming the sides of the Hall, and amounting in total extent to about as much as these of the Crystal Palace Aquarium. There will also be an extensive series of table tanks; and in the rear a large and commodious space for the food and store tanks, the machinery, and the general working purposes of the Aquarium. The public approach will be from the present portico in New Street, through a large Entrance Hall, from which a handsome fight of steps will lead down to the Aquarium, which will be constructed of red terra-cotta, with the ceiling supported by arches resting on ornamental pillars. The large Assembly Room, on a level with the New Street entrance and over the Aquarium, will be 165 feet long; and will consist of three divisions—the first portion being appropriated ​to the table tanks, the central transept for a similar purpose, and at the end will be the large Concert or Lecture Room, surrounded by galleries, and capable of holding 1,000 persons. The block of the present building facing New Street will be retained, and converted into a large Restaurant on the first floor, 70 feet long; and the kitchens will be at the top of the building, according to the most approved modern arrangement. Large shops and sets of retiring rooms will be arranged on each side of the New Street entrance; and means of exit in the rear into Worcester Street will be provided for the Aquarium and Concert Room. Mr. J. A. Chatwin, F.R.I.B.A., is the Architect, and the writer is the Engineer. The company have got possession of the site, and the building will be commenced at once.
This work was published before January 1, 1930, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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