On the Principles and Management of the Marine Aquarium, a Paper

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875. Excerpt: ... On The Principles And Management OF THE Marine Aquarium. I Appear before you as the author of a Paper this evening in compliance with the request of certain of the Members, made to me some time since by the Honorary Secretary, that I would give some information as to the management of my own Aquarium; and because it has occurred to me that any particulars on the subject of Aquaria generally may be acceptable at the present time, when public attention has been directed.to the establishment of a Marine Aquarium in Birmingham, the more especially as I have, since our last Soiree when I had the honour to introduce the subject, met many intelligent men in the town who have said to me, "Yes! a Marine Aquarium would be a "capital thing for Birmingham, but how should you manage about the "water 1" A very natural question, and one per se that is capable of a ready answer. Bring it by rail at the cheapest rate you can get it, as you would any other commodity that you require from a distance! But to my querists I fear this answer would by no means solve the difficulty in their minds, which is probably more deep-seated than B THE MARINE AQUARIUM--Popular notion of it. appears on the surface--the popular notion of an Aquarium heing in all probability derived from those antiquated glass vessels of globular shape and narrowed upper extremity (upon which it would be well if the Legislature imposed a heavy tax as a prevention of cruelty to animals)--in which gold and silver fish have been imprisoned, and the water has been changed at more or less irregular intervals! My present purpose is to show,--incidentally in connection with its principles and management,--what those experienced in these matters are perfectly well aware of, that the water of a well-managed Aquarium n...