THE most noteworthy event at the Aquarium of the New York Zoological Society, recorded in the Director's Report for 1931, was tho establishment and opening of a new department for the exhibition of the smaller fresh-water tropical fishes. At the opening in December, 120 species of diminutive frosh-water fishes from many distant tropical localities were shown, and since many of these are suitable for keeping in home aquaria, part of the exhibit was a demonstration tank showing a balanced aquarium of mixed fishes suitable for such a purpose. Tho thoroughness with which tho world is combed for the stocking of the tropical fresh-water tanks is well illustrated by a map showing collecting grounds in 43 localities, ranging from the Americas to Africa, India, Malaya, and Australia. Only one European locality, in Spain, has contributed to tho tropical collection and only one to the collection of temperate fishes. An interesting activity of the Aquarium is the distribution from the hatchery of quantities of fish eggs and young fishes at different stages of development to high schools for biological studies. In addition to the year's grant of 76,167 dollars, tho City of New York voted 245 dollars towards salaries for temporary labour and 1,000 dollars for the hiring of labourers for 200 days at 5 dollars a day, thereby helping to relieve tho condition of unemployment. The Zoological Society provided from its own funds an additional 22,761 dollars. In the course of the year the Aquarium was visited by 2,453,806 persons.
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Jun 1, 1961
John S Vinden 
Open Access