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THE AQUARIUM.

CHAPTER I.

THE HISTORY OF AQUARIA.

NOTWITHSTANDING a good deal of quibbling which has taken place respecting the word "Aquarium," there can be no doubt it has now gained its ground, as signifying contrivances for the support of living fresh-water and marine animals under such artificial conditions as resemble their natural surroundings. The word has passed out of the region of philology into that of common parlance, and has now become stereotyped in dictionaries.

The charming works of P. H. Gosse undoubtedly did much to make aquarium keeping popular about twenty-three years ago. Everyone who loved nature could not help feeling attracted towards the lovely objects, which he showed were so abundant on our coast, after his animated descriptions of them. To a great extent this was in advance of the natural science of the time, and although it was the means

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of collecting a great deal of information relative to the habits of the invertebrate animals, it had to fall back until science came up with it. The enormous strides which natural science has made since the publication of the 'Origin of Species' have necessitated large aquaria, where the new study of the embryology and larval conditions of the lower animals could be more easily followed. Since that time, also, zoology has become more attractive even to general readers. The fact that evolutionists and non-evolutionists have taken sides over zoological questions, renders it imperative that both shall observe more and theorise less. It has been found, also, that large aquaria may be rendered places of the highest amusement, as well as of the easiest and pleasantest instruction. Hence their numbers are largely increasing, and we doubt not the time is not far distant when all our large towns will be provided with them, so that all classes may know more of the marvellous works of God. To economists, aquaria cannot fail to be of the highest interest, for even within the last few years, observation at several of them has settled various most important facts relating to the life-history of some of those creatures which are most valuable to us as food. In one instance, at least, it was the means of preventing the framing of a law that was based on zoological ignorance, and which would have done as much harm to our fish supply as it was intended to do good! In 1865 a Royal Commission, on which

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several naturalists sat, met at some of our fishing ports, and took evidence from fishermen and others as to whether trawling did not do much harm, by breaking up the sea bed where the ova of fish had been deposited. The idea then was that the cod and whiting-two of the most abundant of our native food-fishes — deposited their eggs on the sea floor. Professor Sars, the well-known Danish naturalist, had expressed his opinion that the ova of these fish floated on the surface; but it was first substantiated in the Brighton Aquarium, where it was found that the ova both of these fish and the mackerel, floated on the surface during the entire period of their development. Had it not been for this discovery, it is more than likely that by this time the fishing trade, as well as the fish supply, would have been crippled by a law which would have restrained trawling operations over cod grounds during the whole of the spawning

season.

Mr. Saville-Kent, at the Manchester Aquarium, has contributed towards the history of the common herring, from its young state. Dr. Gunther, the wellknown ichthyologist, had already declared his belief that by far the greater part of "whitebait" consisted of the fry of herrings.* If this is so, then, in consuming them so recklessly, we are interfering with the chief fish-food of the common people. Mr. Lloyd

* Dr. Gunther affirmed that Clupea alba, or whitebait, was the young of Clupea harengus, or the common herring.

(who was the first to keep whitebait in London, in 1858), and others had experienced a difficulty in herring culture. In consequence of the migratory habits of these fish they often injured themselves by dashing against the glass or the rockwork of the tank in which they were kept. As they move about principally by night, it struck Mr. Kent to illuminate the tank by a feeble light, so that the outlines of the walls, rocks, &c., should be visible to the fish. This plan succeeded admirably, and by its aid Mr. Kent kept and fed whitebait until they have grown to half the size of the ordinary herring. At the time he made this announcement, the fish were eighteen months old.*

In addition to the above-mentioned important facts with which our large aquaria have made us acquainted, there are others not yet worked out, but which are in process of careful observation. It was discovered in the Hamburg Aquarium that the Phyllosoma, one of the "glass crabs," which had been placed in a separate order prepared for it, is only the young of the crawfish (Palinurus quadricornis). The Brighton Aquarium has further contributed important information as to the rapidity of the growth of the salmon. Before then, the growth of this fish was thought to be much slower than observation and exMr. Kent obtained his specimens in a very young state. The only person who has hatched out herrings in aquaria is Mr. Stephenson, of Brixton.

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