The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-07-13
DINNER Time AT
A GREAT AQUARIUM
Over 1000 Submarine Cap.
tives in the New York
institution.
~2l3sSPEClES
Nearly 5000 People Arc on Hand
Daily to Watch the Feeding
of This Enormous
Collection.

st. Louis Republic: The New YORK
Aquarium just now IS one or the c!tyS
most popular and interesting snow
places. Over 1000 submarine capt1Ves,
representing 213 different species OF
various sizes, strange and unfamiliar
in shape and brilliant in color1ng, dis
port themselves in the 100 wall tanks
and spacious floor pools, formlnS a
never-changing panorama or deep-sea
life, the largest to be seen anywhere in
the world.
Nearly 4,454 daily, or, in round num-
bers, 1,625,770 persons the last year,
passed through it's doors to study ana
view these live wonder of nature. The
attendance is probably not equaled by
any other institution in the world. The
present director, Mr.. c. H. Townsend,
has carried on important scientific re-
searches for the government, especially
in the fishing and fur sealing indus
tries. He is recognized as the leading
authority on these and kindred sub
jects relating to marine life.
Two years ago the aquarium was
turned over to the management of the
New York Geological society. Many
innovations have been introduced,
which now afford the most palatial and
up-to-date home for exhibiting fishes
In existence.
One of the busiest places in the
aquarium which is not generally seen
by visitors is the fishes kitchen. Here,
from morning until the middle of the
afternoon the steward is kept hard at
work preparing the daily menu for the
vast crowd of piscatorial boarders. All
Of the food is first class. and is kept
fresh and cold in a large ice chest, and
when ready for use is placed in var
Gus tin receptacIes. Several attend
ants devote the best part Of the after
noon to serving out the rations.
The food is varied to suit the size of
49, ~-I .I--;-t~ 80 Io~F
(sliced, chopped or minced), liver, fish
Good and herring mostly) and clans.
All the fish in the markets are headed
and eviscerated before us. The cod and
herring are halved, the backbone deftly
removed with one sweep of the knife.
The rest of the flesh is cut into strips
Of different lengths. In summe a
great deal of live food, such as min
lows, marine angle worms, small crabs
and cruStaCeanS, sue as sane hoppers,
Is used, being better for the collection
In general. In winter marketable food
stuffs are largely consumed. A special
collector is kept busy the year round
foraging in adjacent bays and ocean
shores to keep the fishes larder well
stocked. The average board bill for
the aquarium's guests for a month is
500.
Some New Arrivals.
Among the chief specimens of the
| M - AIkl III T. NSSllI llS DIN O.
well as from the fact that it is almost
new to the general eye, is the curious
sea COW, or manatee, from Lake Worth,
Fla, probably the only one in
captivity; The animals in their
wild habitat are very shy and
upon approach. Owing to their pecu-
liar tropical habits, they are given spe-
clal treatment and care, such as a suit
able warm temperature, between 20
and Y degrees, for the water of their
pool and a sufficient quantity Of nour-
ishing food: Eel grass and lettuce
leaves strongly tempt their appetite.
The former, however, is used in more
abundance when o~btainable; q bucket
full is usually given for a meal.
The manatee issa female, eight and
one-half feet long, weighing 500.
pounds, and was captured by "Alliga-
tor Joe" at Palm Beach in a large drag
seine Of extra strong manila hemp,
made for he purpose. Numerous at
tempts were made at different times
for a month, and seven nlanatees
escaped and broke through the net be-
fore n was finally obtained. The fe-
male was placed about June of the last
year in a tile-lined pool. twenty feet
long by thirteen feet wide, with Q
depth of four feet of water. The latter
Is renewed nightly.
The feeding of the animal is watched
with unusual interest by the visitors
Mr.. w. De Nyse, with a suspended
handful or eel grass, can coax the
manatee to raise her head and neck
completely out Of the water.
SeacoWs have a peculiar structure
having no front teeth, hind limbs or
hip bones, but a huge beaverlike tail
Their bones are said to be the heaviest
Known among mammals. The best
view Of the creature is obtained Wher
the water is drained from the pool for
mi cleaning, When the whole form is
strikingly outlined against the white
thing. The home of the seacow in the
United States is limited to the Indian
River lagoons of the east coast Of Flor
Ida. Other species are found in various
tropical regions. In captivity they live
seldom longer than five or six months
but the present specimen has survived
nine months.
The care and express transportation
on such a large individual is consider
able, and almost equals it's sale value
uge tank was constructed and filed
with Just enough water to loaf the
massive body.
The aho is probably the onl,
tlsh with a ~prehensile tail. He uses this
In a monkeylike fashion, constantly
anchoring himself to weeds, stones and
STICKS. The position of the body is
USUAL vertical, especially in swim
ming. They are found all along the
American coast, from Cape Cod tc
South Carolina. There is, however, one
remarkable feature about them, little
known generally. Contrary to the resi-
or the animal world, the eggs while
Matching are carried by the male in a
pouch, n the young are said to re-
turn to this for shelter. Hundreds.
probabiythousands, of baby indi-
v1odais are thus transported around by
the paternal member of the family in
h1s strange ~incubating pocket, while
Mrs. Seahorse, released Of care, roams
fancy free.
The clever of the two
little harbor seals from the Maine
coast, come in for a great share of the
\ popular interest. One Of these was
shown at the Worlds Fair at st. Louis.
They are hearty eaters, and deyour
strips Of cod and herring for their
,nncneon. These are usually thrown
INTO the pool, u are oftentimes. when
1.-The seals come high on the platform.
suspended over their heads for a
moment n then eagerly snapped at.
The seals are rapidly disappearing
from GU coast. Owing to their rayagas