New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-12
DEFECTS IN THE AQUARIUM.
WHY IT Is NOT OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.
GROSS STUPIDITY SHOWN IN ITS CONSTRUCTION.
WHICH IT WILL COST THOUSANDS OF


DOLLARS TO REPAIR.
Ono of the mysteries at present to the average
New-Yorker Is why the big aquarium at the Bat
terry doesn't open its doors the public There
are several reasons One OF them Is that owing 10
the manner In which the place was constructed. al
the lower tanks exhibit big fractures In the glass
Of which their fronts composed. and THESE
threaten to give way at any moment deluging the
place and causing the loss Of the large number OF
valuable fish and other treasures contained
therein 1t has been ascertained that. what almost
every practical FISH expert about New-fork KNOWS
az a matter OF everyday knowledge. only at
ehbtide is the water OF the Bay really salt Former
superintendent woodman. under whose directions
the AQUARIUM was built did not know. and as
coneeouence water pumped into the aquarium
from the Bay not salt enough for the saltwater
fish on exhibition there. Until Tarleton H. BEAN
thu new superintendent, man OF practice as we"
"a theory took up the task OF looking alter TIC
aouariums interests. the specimens secured. many
~ them at considerable cost and pains, were rap
,,,v living off Not only must new lower tanks be
nut in but a new arrangement must be MADE ior
supplying salt water, the fish will soon all dis-
appear .
But the crowning stupidity in the construction Is
seen In the way the roof was built IL IL wen
known that a lot Of fish in a tank, especially !"
Neuyork in the summer tme need cool water 70
swim in But Mr. woodman built an aquarium
with a roof that acts does the glass covering "a
a dollhouse for plants. Not only ola the unuN'
fish placed on exhibition begin to ma themselves
without any salt water and even without any wa'e.
at ALL owing to the unfortunate arrangements Vi
the amateur aquarium superintendent out 'ne' "e
gan TO be broiled alive: not only In such not Gays
as have just been visiting New-York put III oiu'-
nary summer weather. On not Gay ike See'e'
day a thermometer placed In one OF the upper
tanks at the new aquarium would easily run ny
"a ,z5 and l45 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat IN the
txa
q man, 10 say nothing OF fsh
The plans for all these repairs and improvements
have just been accepted by superintendent "
1t is in his hands, Park COMMISSIONS Haven lo as
been placed and in fortnight rsd the 9er Ss
BENG a S eH Bean lSn viii
With that wel-known expert on FISH or fishing Eu-
Experts seen by Tribune reporter do not seem
TO see any evidences Of crookedness or OF }UoDsry
ments OF the aquarium but they do see the grossest
stupidity one man says Il IL absolutely incompre,
hno%iedge Of the needs q fsh IN confinement could
have the tanks built as they have been ,en deem I'm
and start too the floor. Especially Is this so
the ground tier i is on This tier wseLe tb bne
the cracks and breakages spoken OF have occurred;
j. 3, az S %ssa Sa%s me fury we'll
az the present depth Of over i've feet and then the
present thickness Of the glass little over one
II has been estimated that IN round figures the
AZ the Battery in a condition TO display Its FISH
treasures to the public will foot up total OF al
most II not quite, $4,000. Should there be any
hitch In the new pumping apparatus and reservoir
for salt water which 1t is proposed to build there
is talk OF using artificial sea-waer, as IL done at
the Royal Aquarium, Westminster. and at Aston.
Birmingham. where 10000 gallons are In constant
use and at Brussels
Superintendent Bean said yesterday that he had
hopes OF being able 10 open the aquarium TO the
public In October. Dr. Beans standing and expert
ence with fish evident when II s considered that
he was the assistant In charge at the United States
Fish Commission. curator OF the department OF
fishes In the National Museum In the Smithsonian
Institution and representative OF the Fish Commits
sioners at the Atlanta Exposition.