Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-15
VOL. XXXIV.
The Modern AGnarium

If we visit the aquarium we pass
through spacious hall, on either side of
which are the tanks, through the massive
plate-glass fronts Of which we see their
tenants disporting themselves as in their
native depths. We also note that at one
corner of the tank continuous stream of
pure water is being pumped into the min
iature sea, and we can readily tell that
this is stream of aerated oxygen, carry
ing water by the multitude of air-bubles
which il difluses through the surrounding
medium The water is thus, by the agen-
cy of steam-power, constantly kept circu-
lating throughout the entire series of tanks,
and from our previous remarks the reader
will be ut no loss to answer the question
-" How is it all managedP' which is aI-
ways on the lips of visitors who cannot
imagine how, away from the sea, fresh
saltwater is always to be had. In fact, it
may be asserted that the most successful
aquaria are those farthest from the sea,
and which depend for their success on the
constant and careful aeration and manipu-
lation of the same volumes of water.
Where, as at Brighton, the facilities for re-
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can be seen, either in the purity of the wa
ter or in the health of its denzens, over
aquaria far removed from the sea, in
which the one supply serves for an in
definite period. The plan adopted gcner
ally in large aquaria is to have dark tanks
situated beneath the show-tanks.
Water is continually being driven from
the dark reservoirs upward into the tanks
containing the animals, the jets of water
being charged with oxygen received in
the passage Of the water us it is exposed
to the atmosphere. The overflow pipes of
the show-tanks are constantly returning
the water once more to the dark tanks, its
sojourn in the latter preventing the excess
sive development of vegetable spores
The only other condition which the aqua
rium-keeper has to consider is that of
evaporation. If left to itself, the water of
an aquarium obeys the universal rule of
outdoor nature, and decreases in bulk
through evaporation. Small quantities of
water have, therefore, to be added to the
store, to make good this loss-trHing, no
doubt, when casually viewed, but impor-
tant when regarded rs to its accumulative
effects. Experience has also Taught aqua
RUM managers fact which scientific
theory itself would hardly have inculcated
namely, that plant growth is not necessary
in great aquaria for the maintenance OF
animal life, in the face of the constant cir
culation of the water. The minute inviSi-
bic spores or germs, which are invariably
present, perform the functions of the adult
and visible plants, and thus render needless
the cultivation of the latter, always diff
cult performance.
Much us the aquarium has been appre-
ciated, and boundless us is the delight
which it affords TO thousands of holiday
makers, its highest functions have yet tc
be fully realized. At Naples, DR.. Antan
Doarn has not only established an aquarium
and geological station, but has, along with
Serra11tS from other countries, already
made many valuable and original observa-
tions on the lile-history and development
! of various marine animals. The aqua
rum, while it thus serves to increase the
higher culture of the nation ut large, by
presenting the people with the opportuni.
ty of seeing what is good, true, and beau
tiful in nature, and to act as great edu-
cational means in stimulating love OF
nature, especially in the young, has also
the important mission Of afording mater
ial and opportunity for scientific and tech
nical investigation. And the entire sub
ject has high value in impressing upor
the mind not only the fact, that important
results sometimes spring from the careful
study of II seemingly trifling subject, bu
also that attention to minor details and tc
the laws of natural things constitutes the
means which ultimately ensure success in
most of our undertakings.