Year: 1876




A private enterprise is to give New
York what has been SO long clamored
for as public w0rk-a full and complete
aquarium. Mr.. w. G. Coup, associate
with Prof. Butler and Mr.. Charles
Reiche, has purchased the large plat of
ground at the corner of Thirty-ffth and
Broadway streets, and is building there
on a gigantic aquarium, modelled after
that of London. In the immense tank
in this building there will be room for
the largest fishes of the sea to disport
themselves.


The first capture is an earnest of the
completeness of the undertaking. Two
white whales-a species of sea monster
which it has heretofore been considered
impossible to capture-are on their way
to this city, under the care of number
of experienced agents of the aquarium
managers, and have reached Portland,
Me-, in safety. From that point they
will sail in the steamer Eleanora for New
York.


The method Of capture of these mon-
sters is interesting and worthy of re-
counting, from the success that has at
tended it. In order to effect it, it was
necessary to send number of agents to
the coast of Labrador several months
ago. There, on proper financial induce
ments being offered, several old whalers
undertook the thOught.to be impossible
feat of taking specimens of the monsters
alive. The method employed was novel,
not only in its success, but in its opera
tions. During the spring time it is the
habit of this species of whale to take
refuge in the little coves and bays of the
coast to calve. They enter when the
tide floods, and depart very artfully as it
ebbs, lest they be left high and dry, as
has been several times the case. A strong
tank or trap was sunk at the mouth of
one of these bays, the ponderous lid on
top being left invitingly open. Then,
after the tide came in at full flood, a
strong net was stretched across the out
let to the bay, and the fish trappers sat
down and waited patiently for the tide
to ebb. AS the water began to shoal in
the bay number of very large white
whales were seen in state of great COM
motion. After vainly striving to sail
out into the open sea, being restrained
by the net, which they did not attempt
to break through, they naturally sought
the deep water in the tank, and the lid
was closed on them. A derrick which
had been provided for the purpose was
foated beside the trap, and chains being
hitched to it and the weights that sunk
it thrown of, an attempt was made to
raise it clear out of the water. The
weight was too great, however, for the
power employed on the derrick, and the
attempt was abandoned for the time.
An inspection of the trap, however,
showed the difficulty. There were four
whales of ponder0us size foundering
aboutin their capacious prison, and their
combined weight was too great for the
lifting power of the apparatus at hand.
The old whalers held council, and de-
termined to sacrifice two of the prisoners
in order that they might secure the other
two alive. After much delay and diff
Guilty the two smaller whales were har-
pooned and killed and the carcasses
drawn out of the trap. The attempt to
raise them was then made again, and
this time with success. The trap and its
contents was raised clear, and after a
long journey afoat landed safely on
shore. There car fitted up for the pur-
pose was ready to receive the strange
passengers, and after some trouble the
tank was placed in position on it. The
other tank cars. laden with sea water,
were attached to this, with apparatus SO
arranged that the tank in which the
whales disported was constantly fed with
a stream of fresh sea water flowing in
and out. This system worked marvel.
ously well, managed, however, with care
and skill by large force of attendants
skilled in such matters, and the special
train of the whales arrived at Portland
without the least accidents to the strange
passengers. At that point, however, il
was thought best to abandon the rail and
take to the sea for the rest of the trip to
New York. This will be the first time
that such specimens have ever been &C.
cured alive for exhibition, and New
York will have for her aquarium two
specimens unequaled even in the aquaris
| of Europe.