New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-14
FISHES GROW TOLIRE MEN
AN AQUARIUM KEEPER SHOWS HIS PETS
AND THEIR HOSPITAL BEHIND
THE SCENES.

The fishes at the Aquarium know their friends
just as well the animals do in the Zoo, if the
statements of the keepers are to be accepted. No
one would think in passing through the build
ing in Battery Park, that men watching the
fishes all the time who can tell in an instant
when anything ails of them but it is never
theess a fact. That the fishes aware of
these mems almost exaggerated
statement, but there is evidence that a deal
of sympathy exists between them. Some of the
keepers have not only love for their work, but
a genius for it. One man who is on duty there
several nights a week said he happier
among his pets than he would be at home.
He exultant when he spoke of his lot in
life. He had enough to eat and kept close to
nature all the time. His whole life had been
spent among wild animals birds and fishes He
knew the traits of different ones, and loved
them all.
Tribune reporter who went into the Aqua
rum the other day noticed one West Indian
seal sporting about the large tank on the
ground floor The other seals had disappeared
in a few months and the reporters question
to what had become of them led to an inter
esting conVersat alton.
THE last one died. the keeper said. I'VE lost
him by pneumonia" and his voice was softened
as if he had lost beloved member of his fam
a great deal of difficulty in winter in keeping
the interior of the Aquarium warm, as the doors
are continually being opened. On the coolest
days the apparatus in the building is only
enough to keep the water at the required tenn
perature. The seals. which fond of leaving
the water, suffer most whenever it is cold.
A PLAYFUL SEAL.
1T was a raw, bleak day." the keeper said
when Gyp caught pneumonia. We tried to
keep him in the water; stood on the landing
at one end of the tank and brandished club
at him and showed him back. We employed
every means could without hurting him.
but come out he would. 1 knew what would
happen, but couldn't help it, He caught
cold, which led to pneumonia, and then he died"
There a large crowd about the tank and
the children leaned over the railing as the seal
SWAN round and round.
Are you afraid that they will hurt him?"
was asked
mo; bless you, no." said the keeper. Il here
for fear the seal will hurt some of the people
He is the kindest, gentlest and best natured thing
on earth but afraid that in his playful
ness he will grab somebody's hand and do an
injury unwittingIy"
And then the keeper sprang forward and
waved aside child whose nurse had lifted it
up that it could extend its tiny hand above
the tank.
IF you will come here tonight after the place
Is closed" he said, Il will show you some things
that will interest you. Six o'clock is a good hour
Since we have been receiving fishes from Ber-
muda and the tropics have had to have the
water at twelve different temperatures and keep
it even in certain tanks by night and day. And
then we have a hospital for fishes"
The visitor was interested He was back
promptly on time, and the keeper led the way
overhead and back 20 the apparatus where the
water is tempered, and by means OF which the
fishes are kept alive. AS he passed along beside
the tanks it could be seen that the current ran
through some of them as swiftly a babbling
brook, while others tranquil. In one of
them a nautical thermometer was suspended
and the keeper explained that the tank con- |
tanned surgeon fish from Bermuda. It was
necessary to keep the water within SO degrees !