New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-01
AQUARIUM TRANSFERRED.
CHARLES II. TOWNSEND, THE NEW d.
RECTOR, SUGGESTS BROAD
DEVELOPMENTS.

The formal transfer of the aquarium to the
New-York Geological Society took place yester-
day That the transfer would be made was
announced exclusively in The Tribune recently.
Charles II. Townsend, who has accepted the
invitation of the society to become the director
of the aquarium. made address before the
gathering of officials of the city and of the
society, and made some valuable suggestions.
If these are carried out the aquarium will be
made one OF the important educational institu-
lions OF the city and the country. Mr.. Town
send said that his examination of the aquariums
of Europe last summer had shown him that the
New-York Aquarium the largest in the
world, not only in size, but in the number OF fish.
Even i'm tropical fish 1t exceeded the exhibits in
the aquarium at Naples. which is noted for its
collection.
One of the ways in which the collection in the
old fort could be improved, he suggested was in
identifying the exhibits. BY the use of rocks
to which could be attached specimens of the in
Vertebrates he said, much could be done tow
ard making the exhibits more attractive and
making il possible TO display specimens OF this
Oroer of life such as sea anemOnes. star1sh and
sea urchlns. The aquarium, he also said. could
be made part OF the educational system. In
this connection a collector could be employed
to obtain specimens TO be sent every week 10 the
aquarium. Here they could be studied by the
scholars. II might be possible to establish small
aquariums In the public schools. and send
specimens to them every week. There
space also which might be utilized for bio
logical study. and the aquarium might be
used a winter biological station where
work which Is done at Woods Hole
and other stations in the summer could be con-
tinued in the winter. Fish culture he said. was
likely to become more and more important
vocation. At the present time Mr.. Townsend
SAID. the United States was placing 900OooOoo
fish in the waters of the country. and the
States were supplying many more; the fish
industry was worth $J0O00O0O to the fishermen
OF the country alone THE time is coming" ne
declared. when IL will be necessary to replen-
ish the waters of the Northwest and OF Alaska
where salmon taken. The salmon business
is worth S15GO0,OO0 a year.
"A fish hatchery exhibit might be established
here where the development OF the fish from
the egg could be observed. Electric lights could
be placed in the tanks inside glass tubes, in
such a way that one could through the eggs
themselves. In connection with it could be con-
Quoted a school in fish culture. which could be
attended by the students OF the colleges. There
is only one educational institution in the coun-
try in which fish culture is taught That is Cor
nell"
There were perhaps twenty five persons pres
emit Commissioner Wilcox of the Department
of Parks presided and in a brief speech handed
the documents transferring TO the society the
control to Professor Henry F. Osborn, chairman
of the executive committee Of the society and
one of it's vice-presldents Professor Osborn
made a speech in accepting the trust, and then
Charles A. FOTnes, President of the Board or
Aldermen spoke for a few moments, assuring
the society that it was the policy Of the admin
istration to encourage such work as that in
which the society was engaged.
Professor Osborn said later that there prob
ably would be changes of consequence before
the first OF the year. None of the employees
would be discharged, ne said. Some of them
would be taken over by the Department or
Parks The superintendent L. Is. Spencer, would
continue to occupy that position.
Among those present besides the ones men
toned were Madison Grant. secretary OF the
society; John l.. Cadwalader, Charles T. Bar
ney, John S Barnes, Philip Schuyler, w. W.
Niles w. T. HOrnaday. Herman c. Bumpus'
Lispenard Stewart, George B. Grinnell, Profess
sor Charles L. Bristol and Professor Bashfnrd
Dean. The following is to be the advisory COM
mittee OF the Aquarium Professor Charles l.
Bristol, New-York University; DIR. Alfred G
Mayer, Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sci
ences; Professor Bashford Dean. Columbia Uni
versity; w. L. Damon and Mr.. Shurtlen.