Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-09
THE NEW AQUARIUM.
An Interesting Exhibition at the FISH
Commission Station.

The commissioner of fish and fisheries. Col
Marshall Mcdonald. during the summer in
vestigations at Woods Holl in 1888, carried his
experiments with the management of marine
aquaria to a successful issue and he is now ap-
plying, in Washington, the principles estab-
hshed on the coast in exhibiting a very large
series Of living animals and plants from our
seas and fresh waters. An extension has been
added to the armory in the form Of glass
rooted inclosure, containing 120 linear feet of
aquaria, the tanks measuring from to feet
in length by feet in height The backs of
the aquaria slope at an angle of As degrees
The fronts are glass, the backs and ends SOAP
stone. These will be devoted to both marine
and fresh-water life. The interior of the aqua
rum annex is lined with paper. modele
and painted in imitation of a rock cavern
Light enters from above and passes through
the fronts of the aquaria. The reservoir for
salt water Is in the upper part OF the building
at an elevation of forty-two feet above the
tanks. Water is delivered into the aauaria
through small glass tubes drawn out into fine
jets and the fall gives 1t force enough to carry
finely comminuted spray of water mingled
with air to the bottom Of the tanks and to keep
up continual circulation. The waste water
Is conducted into pond, which is covered
with glass and contains numerous species Of
marine plants, especially Viva, and other rapid
oxygenators. In this way, exposed to the action
of sunlight and plants, the salt water is regene-
rated before it is again pumped up into the
reservoir This is believed to be an entirely
new principle in the management OF the aqua
rum. small Ericsson hot-air pump raises
the water to the distributing reservoir. BY
this method OF treatment the water supply can
be used indefinitely. Another method of
aerating the water where only hydrant pressure
is employed is by means Of modification of
the Sprengel air pump.
CONTENTS OF THE AQUARrA.
The aquaria contain numerous marine alge,
conspicuous among them being the kelp,
Lamtnaria, rock weed, Fucus, the Aeshy red
RhGbdonid tenerd, the green sea lettuce, J7oa-
latssinad and clathrdtd, and the slender Erte1-o-
norpitd. These species thrive under the pres
ent system OF management and are very snowy,
while they also keep the water in good condi-
ton to sustain animal lite. Many species of
animals live and grow in these aquaria. At
present there are hydroids, anemones, barna-
cles, shrimp, Holsters, many kinds Of crabs,
periwinkles, whelks, scallops. CLAIMS, mussels,
and oysters. The fishes include the num-
michogs, sculpins fiat fish, toad fish, Gunner
tantog, gobies, blennies, sea robins, tomcod,
sucking fish, mullet, soup, and sea bass. Ali
OF those are feeding regularly, look healthy,
and are growing rapidly.
The fresh water aquaria are supplied win
filtered water and numerous species of plants
are growing in them. The most important
genera for ornament and decarbonizing the
water are CaGonsba, MTiophylhlna, Saqiharia,
Nle1d, Anacharis Potamogeton, L,d,oigia,
Caaistrfche and Nyn,phco; Q slender lily and .
kind OF Wild parsley are also used with good ef-
feet. These aquaris accommodate q great
variety Of fishes besides some large Unios and
several species Of turtles. Among the fishes
are the carp, tench, ide and gold fish from the
carp ponds, the spotted cat Ash and other mem-
bers Of the same family from the Ohio valley,
representatives Of the living Ganoids, Lepi-
dosteus and Amia, half-dozen kinds Of sun
fishes, a. many dartsrs, ten or dozen species
Of minnows, crappis, black bass, wall-syed
pike, pickerel and wonderful display Of the
SaiDs0nid0, including white Ash, graylipR,
brown trout, Loeb Leven trout, lake trout,
brook trout, rainbow trout aud hybrids be-
tween lake and brook trout
THE HArcnrxo Jars
contain 5000 900 eggs Of white Ash, 81, 900 land
locked salmon, $4,000 brook trout, and 10, 900
lake trout, the last recently Matched. The
transformation Of the armory, or central
station, II complete. The visitor now sees the
processes Of developing eggs, and, ct the same
time, many interesting aquatis, animals are
to their healthy growth and development In
some aquaria, however, the Ashss brought
from Ohio are attacked BY infusoria and
encysted parasites, giving biologists an oppor-
tunity 10 study the life history Of these forms
and 70 experiment upon the treatment of Ashss
20 anected. The various kinds Of apparatus
used In taking, carrying, and Matching eggs
and transporting hshes are displayed and prop
eriy labeled. The walls ars adorned with
large photographs Of fishing scenes and
70 the angler and the Aah culturist Thousands
Of people Who knew the .armory only e
hospital OF IN untidy workshop are now highly
gratined by The many novelties which skaxm