The evening world., 1894-05-17
THIS WHALE TO Be A GRAMPuS
Scrgt. Woodmon Will Fool the
Public at the Aquarium.
He Is Arranging to Have II Hospital
for Fish.

The scales will fall from the eyes Of
the lovers of that which Is piscatory
when they enter the aquarium in Bat
terry Park some time next Fall They
viii expect to see a whale. but they
will be disappointed.
Tho statement has been made that
among other exhibits there would be II
whale, and that a pool had been con
atructed In the new and elegant aqua
rum for that monster of the briny.
A reporter for The Evening World"
visited the aquarium yesterday after
noon to get the measurements OF this
pool, and, incidentally. to ascertain just
how this monster was to be induced to
occupy the ready made pool. The fol-
lowing dialogue resulted. with Supt
Woodman as the respondent:
1t Is understood by the public that a
whale Is to be among the exhibits
les, SIR. We have II whale pool here"
(which one Is intended for the stamp
ing ground OF the whale" pueried the
reporter. at the same time scanning the
seven pools on the main floor OF the
aquarium
-. That one in the middle" replied supt.
The pool referred to was only 40
feet in diameter and & feet deep.
is the whale 10 be introduced on the
pam WAS next asked, on
the basis that "A sperm whale or ii right
whale VIII measure anywhere from 30
to 80 feet In length
"3y no means" was the answer: we
shall serve him UP whole"
But the pool won't hold him unless
he is offered in sections" was suggested.
on well. you know it isn't to be eX
actly whale" was the reply. We
the whale family. no be sure. they
sport but one blow-hole and they sell
dom exceed 20 feet in length. though
sometimes attaining % feet.
YOU see We couldn't get n real whale.
! am not attempting impossb!lities. In
the frs place It would be impossible to
capiured him 1t would be Impossible TO
capture, and transport him. captivity
necessary that = whale should enjoy
what the Cons tuition OF these United
states promises TO Its citizens, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
so there Is to be no whale?"
only grampus."
But grnmptis 20 feet long and s or
feet thick will be worth seeing. The
way he VIII roll around will be n eau
tion. and when he puts his pneumatic
tube In operation the fountains OF the
Department of Public Parks Will poke
their heads under their wings and blush
for very shame.
After this conversation Mr. William
II Bwman. member. Of the Fish Cm-
just returned from Europe, where he
went to Inspect the aquariums. He
II have visited the three prIncInaI
aqua RUNS Of the world. This n1uariilm
IN Battery Park wll be the very finest
thing Of the kind in the world. IL il is
Eiompletei {, on the same lines upon which
II was begun. ! have visited the finest
a1uariums OF Europe, AMI have not the
sta tement. ~
hor a
Moodman but, honestly, | can't do II,
re mas constructed. or caused to be con
mtructed. The finest plant for the propa-
% inv trtha shn'hi,,In ,bn, ana happiness Of the
EARN. SO fnr there is not one word
or fault to find.
,,o There is but one other aquarium in
WAFER hsh are exhibited. That Is at
brighton. But they do not begin to
maNVe the facilities for caring for the
hsm thht are at our command here.
'The une other aquarium abroad that
~ ~ worthy Of notice Is that of Naples.
Irhhere only saltwater nsh are kept
gor,l gins,ir s|Ftem of iiltcring is far In
so am very confident in making
,ne assertion that when this Aquarium
nSst "'Th tSInr TO of fhs m pnR;tc it VIII be the
Supt Woodman interrupted the inter
| view at this juncturc with the sugges-
Won won,I ma, lat ,ao look at the hltering plant
aScordinHly he party went to the
rear OF the old Castle Garden Building.
which has been trnnsposcd 40 that ii
reminds one OF the bed of Mother ocean
70 such realistic extent that one looks =
Tor the proverbiai straw to grasp at to
save one from drowning
| lhere are four pure bronze filters now
In active operation, and eventually there
Will be six This Is the only metal avail
abe, all Others being susceptible to rust
orcorroslon. These filters have "A capacity
IA Nnrth
ana East rivers meet at the Battery
where the water Is drawn, and 1t Is
nick With sewage. When 1t has passed
the filters 1t is as green ana clear as
though taken from the middle of the
Atlantic. In case the filters from any
cause become choked, or If the engines
VIII be turned on 'straight'-that Is
without being filtered or purlhed-unti I'll
me hltering apparatus is again in apple
Several departures will be made in the
aquarium line when this exhibit is
opened 10 the public. One is the con-
tinement in captivity OF members OF the
trout and salmon family, 1t is a we'll
known fact that trout and salmon must
have cold water. and of an even tenn
reratute; So the question OF keeping
them alive ana healthy during the
heated term is somewhat of problem
The method to be adopted is not yet
decided. There are two ways under
consideration. one is to have the water
which is packed in ice; the other is to
force current of cold air through the
water Neither trout nor salmon Will
live IN temperature above 10 degrees,
and GO degrees is about the limit that
VIII insure perfect health.
Another innovation Is the hospital
| Think OF hospital Tor sick fish,
Just imagine n porpoisc with whoopins
cough, or a seal with measles!
hut nevertheless this new aquarium
Will sport n hospital. and Supt Wood
man Will oticiate as resident physician
llc Is thoroughly capable to mi the posi-
, tion, for he knows all about hsh, both
theoretically and from practice as a
fisherman and n Joker.
, This term Joker is used advtsedly
| II Is well authenticated that all fisher.
men handle facts with gloves, and Mr.
Woodman cannot deny the soft i'm,
pcachment that he is "a story-teller and
! Joker. Upon Saying good-hy Commits.
! sloner Bowman said to Supt. Wood.
man
) We'll. I'll come around when YOU
open up, and see II can tind some
fault with you"
AN right" replied supt. Woodman
hut that reminds me Of little story
IA, 81, I