The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-02
AT THE AQUARIUM.
Temperlng the water to the Frshes-Bfs
Turtles In New Quarters.

Turtles in New Quarters.
The warmed salt water supply for the
tropical fishes at the Aquarium vas turned
on this year on Sept. is, when the tenn
| perature OF the water pumped from the
salt water wells sunk through the roc
and sand under the Aquarium building had
fallen to 6s.
When the salt water falls to that point
the tropical fishes eyin to get logy and dull,
and their appetites decrease. They are
still in good health, but the water is too cold
for them, and they would soon begin to
decline in it, and a much lower temperature
they could not stand at all. So the warmed
salt alter Is turned into the tanks and the
temperature gradually raised to 70, in
which they regain their appetites and re-
sumo their norm al life and activity. The
water in their tanks is not permitted to 60
below 70 nor over u through the v inter-
Over on the fresh water side Of the Aqua
rum the Croton W alter az 1t flows into the
tanrs Is still too warm for the comfort and
ell being of such northern fishes as the
trout and salmon, and for tbs n the supply
Of artifcially cooled water turned into
their tanks Is still maintained. II will be
cut of hen the Croton y ater falls to q
temperature OF 60 degrees, which Is usually
AT out Oct 1.
Aside from the fishes that require to be
thus specially cared for, there are plenty
of others here that thrive in the water at
its natural temperature, and some that are
The striped bass. In summer, when the
salt water gets up to Is, the striped bass
get dull and don't eat 80 much. but In
September, October and November. when
the water gets cooler and has some snap to
it. they come into their full vigor and activity
season, which is their period Of inactivity.
The big Mississippi River catfish, which
10 in a class all by itself, stopped eating this
year on Aug. 10. 1t had eaten regularly
from May IS, the time it begaa 70 q ea a. this
feed again until Aug 49, Since that time
1t has eaten nothing, and it has now appar-
emily settled down for It's long annual period
Of liberation, not to eat again until next
spring. perhaps not until next summer.
did not eat so much when it does eat
Two Of the Aouarium's big loggerhead
| turtles have now been transferred from
the turtle pool to the far freer and ampler
waters Of the great central pool. where they
may be seen to much greater advantage:
six months ago 269 pounds and now weighs
| probably 800 pounds, is about four feet in
length on its rpoer shell, and six feet OF
more over all. from the tip Of its leak to
J the end OF its tail The smaller one is about
| three and a half feet over all.
Seen in the turtle POOL, where thev had
bit limited spare to move about In. the
biz turtles in 'vitablv appeared slow and
stupid, but they present very different
appearance In the great pool, where there
Is room for them to swir, freely.
The loggerhead gets It's name from the
resemblance OF Its head to the end OF a
log when thrust up out OF water, but it Is
not by any means 80 dull a swimmer as its
name might inn w. Az a matter of fact, I. Is a
very able swimmer: and clumsy az 1t may
appear when seen inactive. II may when seen
In motion, with plenty OF sea room, seem not
sweeps OF its mighty hippers, it makes its