The New York herald., 1876-10-23
THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM

NOVELTY OF ITS coNrENrs-A NEW FIELD yoL
POPULAR srupY-THE WONDERS OF THE SEA
AND RIVER.
Ii is quite evident tha. the New York Aquarium has
become leading feature among the sights Of the city
Combining, asst does, amusement with instruction,
the tanks their Inhabitants attract large
OF people who love study tho wonders Of nature
Unlike menagerie where the animals Gagged and
crbbed within limits and lose many OF their
most striking features the dcnizens OF the Aquarium
are so Hospitality lodged that they evidently ignor
ant OF captivity. Thus 1t will DC that the fish
exhibited appear precisely they do in tho river,
pond sea- and the visitor gets clearer idea OF the
mysteries OF the deep than be obtained In any
other way In the tanks are many objects that
strange and wonderful for they in their natu
raj element and present an appearance FAR different
from that which they assume in the air.
The want OF just such establishment has long
been iell ana the Aquarium in supplying 1t docs so
in wsy that cannot fail to the patronage OF
the public AS they enter the main door at the
OF Thirty fifth stree; and Broadway tho visitors find
themselves surrounded by multitude of tanks, which
contain many thousands OF specimens Of tho rarcst
deep sea and fresh water fishes and amphibious
animals Tho list includes a white whale from tho
Bay OF Fundy black seal sea lion from Labrador,
green turtles from Key West, agators from the Mis-
sissippi md ths agoons OF Florida, salmon from Cali
forna; bass, perch and sturgeon from Lako Michi
gan, trout from the brooks Of Long Island, shrimp
frcm the Lower Bay. crabs and Holsters from the
sound and many strange fishes belonging to distant
parts OF the world The Aquarium thus offers to the
student and curiosity seeker more complete coloc-
tion OF specimens Of marine life than has ever been
gathered together this Contihont and, whether
looked upon a novelty by the sightsecr con-
sidered school for object teaching, its value as .
means of amusement cannot be ignored.
A visit 10 the Aquarium shows IL be placed IN
arse and spacious building, the walls Of which
very tastefuy decorated with ivy rustic lattice
work. Along the walls and In inches groups Of
classic from tho Greek and Roman mythologies
Facing tho entrance is immense salt water tank
whore his majesty tho whitc whale dlsports and blows
in his native element The tank is circular structure
thirty eight diameter, and than
g. 600 gallons or water which is carried up the
Bay every day in tugboat from beyond SANDY Hook,
at a daily exponso Of $780, The ocean water is landed
at tho foot Of Thirty-thrd street. North River, and
from thence conveyed on large trucks and emptied
the great tank for tho maintenance OF the whale
This necessity, as the water soon becomes foul and
cannot be cleanscd by artificial There AZ
immense tank for the stationary salt water, which,
by means OF nearly three miles Of vulcanized rubber
pipe is distributed to tho smaller
deep sea and salt fishes are kept. HIS whale.
ship Dimes when ho feels like 1t. upon half barrel full
oil live coils that every day thrown to him. How
the whale manages the eating them
only be understood by watching his rapid move
ments IN the water II the visitor patient In his
watchulness he may be fortunate enough to tire
largo fish selze his prey and gulp II down Wncn the
writer was present on Saturday tho whale plunged to
the bottom OF his tank and soon roappcared with
largesized eel wrgglng about the of his pom
derous jaws The whale Is OF wnitish color, smooth
skinned and about fifteen feet in length AS he came
water IL could be observed that his fan like TAIL
stead being perpendicular, like that other dshes
was plano parallel TO tho surface of the watcr.
Professors Butler and Mather, who have charge OF
the scientific details preserving keeping and breed
ing the fishes take much interest in explaining TO
visitors the various processes connected with their
duties Professor Mathor exhibits series of layers Of
wooden trays which are deposited thousands OF
salmon's eggs from McCIoud River, California,
the gilt OF the Pscicutural Commission OF tho
United States These layers OF eggs are under
slant stream of Croton water, and by the help Of
magnfycr could be seen in the different stages of in.
cubaton until the moment when the young nsh breaks
newly hatched chicken will about with part Of
tho shell adhering TO H. The before incubation
resembled In shape and color yellow pca with black
dot on It.
which haa been somewhat injured the way hero,
being doctored by Professor Mather The big iol-
low seemed TO comprehend that something ths
matter with him, and he submitted very quiotIy to
have tho gathering fungus removed from his back
The lady crab quito entertaining the visible ef
forts which she put ornament her head in tho
most gaudy manner with every little bit seaweed
she could detach from the stones the bottom OF
the tank. The hermit crap initiated the se1shness Of
hts prototype by seizng on empty shell by
and unscrupulousy making his homo In It.
stout little FISH, with diagonal stripes
ning across Its body bears the namo OF Lafayette,
from the fact that 1t first maao its appearance in
American waters tho year that the famous
French patriot visited this continent The sea spider
not unlike gigantic taraniula was a dangerou us look.
ing customer. The sea raven had rough brownish,
vcvety looking skin and, like the robn was fur.
nished with pcc,ora fins that appeared like wings in
the water propclling their owners with astonishing
rapidty The pair OF all gators with their dozen and
hall OF a family. much wondered at by the hun.
dreds OF children who crowded round their dry tank
the slow aud cautious movements OF these
amphibous creatures and pranks OF
their progeny. The formidable shark showed
by the violence Of his movements The crociousnass OF
his nature The under side OF the skate, was
placed against the glass wall Of the tank had a 70.
sembance to caricature of some hdcous hdnan faco
The ling sturgeon, pike founder, herring trout,
Decd almost any fish that could name, are 10 bs
found IN the several tanks which line tho south and
sides OF the building The shark tank ten icei
wide by sixty Eve long, and has more capao,tv
than the great OF Brighton En- gland which is the
largest tank in any OF the European aquaria
Attached TO the Aquarium are library OF scientific
books OF reference, Tor the OF students, and q
studio whero drawings be made, cases taken and
dissectons performed OF sucn objects may be SUBJ
mitted Tor these purposes
In the basement is powerful engine, which propd1s
the pumps that keep in circulation, separately tho
OF salt and fresh water which require constant
filtration to be iii for the animal life that inhabts the
numerous tanks Hero preparations being made
to excavae great tank, which Will be built OF Port
land cement and is to have capacity OF 100000
gallons
Such are few OF tho leading features In the cstab-
lishment Besides them there many that must be
searched for in the smaller tanks Each study BY
ITSELF for yhey contain living objects are not onv
strange in form but beautiful color while their sur
roundings Afford marine landscapes surprising their
loveness.
The price or me HERALD today and nenceJortn
tciu be three cents.