The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-08
POISON IN THE IQUlRIUM
The Salt water Fishes, the Most Valuable OF
the Collection, Killed.

A dastardly outrage has been pcrpetrated
nt the New York Aquarium. More than half Of
the whole number Of fishes In the tanks there
have been poisoned to death by some malicious
person. During the warm weather the windows
in the sidc OF the building toward Thirtyiifth
street have been kept open to admit u free circu-
laton Of air. and through these open windows.
II Is supposed. poison was thrown into the
tanks containing the fishes. The tanks in
which the fishes have been killed are all salt
watcr tanks. There are pipes leading from one
to the other through tho long row of saltwater
reservoirs. and through these n constant cur
rent of water was kept in circulation by means
Of powerful steam pumps. This constant cir
culation would carry poison put into any one
tank to all of the others in the salt water series.
knowledge OF this system of circulation was
ov,dcntiy. possessed by whoever poisoned me
llsh's. II is conIectured that the poison was
infused into the water on Thursday or Friday
last. as ON those DAYS some ot the fishes then re-
lected food and were in torpid condition. pn
saturday and sunday It was evident that the
inny tribe were seriously III. On Monday
morning the watchman in charge reported To
tho proprietors that hundreds of fishes were
noating on the surface, dead. Baskets were
procured and the dead fishes wore sroQped out
~ the tanks. and ON the completion OF tho work
the salt water tanks were almost dep 'pulatsd,
Only a few OF the saltwater fishes larger and
stronger than the others. lived.
The fresh-w water tanks are 50 far from the
! windows that Il was impossible To- throw poison
l through tn windows into IN tanks. Ilfrti irt
/ some of the fresh water fishes were killed The
/ fresh water fishes are not So valuable as those
/ from salt water and the fishes that ARE left rcp-
! resent not more than onr-puHrtcr OF tho money
! value II the piscatoriAl property.
! In addition TO the loss of "a large amount ot
! money rntniled by the Wholesale poisoning II is
feared that IT Will be almost ilnpos- tole To- re-
| place some OF the rare species. Among the
dead are fifteen valuable sharks. herring. and
| sturgeon.
one ~ the EMPLOYEES proposed to utilize the
! dead fishes 10y feeding Them to- thu seais. but
/ the Superintendent would not permit such a
] pro rcllug. us the seals might hc thus pois med.
Tho pr'uniary loss 10 the propri-tor- II the
/ Aquarium Will foot up many thuu-uh is ~ dol
/ lars. Although greatly .dl-hcari'nec hy their
loss. they have already hrnn to MAKE arrange
ments To- replucr the dead fishes with live onas.
I Io.rgiim- have boon sent to ~'N'rul ~ the per-
! MAurut fishing stations established in 81 N rent
parts of tie world hy hg--rs. coup & k"iehe.
| inelud ue the station AZ Bermuda, telling the
/ mon In charge OF them To- forward lmmo ilately
all tn" fishes they have IN their Reservoirs for
! the restocking Of the Aquarium. On" o. the
agents at station near NV ork telesrapAe'i
! ye-i srday. 80 Have wagon wiNl iinh al ip4i oi
! Thirty fourth street. North river. D-morrNw W
I morning. 20 get s'ue i'-h VIII na There for
/ thn Aquarium" Other similar responses are
| cNpr.ted soon. and VI .~sr-. Coup y Reich" hope
ere long t. have the Aquarium almost entirely
Some time ago two nne and rare sen oitnr4
thut had been pro- Furel a. greut 'NpNus' died
| in the Aquarium. having boom poisoned hy
some one unknown. Tho car H-s ,rc dis
srct"d hy Dr. Wris-e ~, Iwruty-s"euud street
and now proved to have been painter White