Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/317

260 one of unusual form, or much ornamented,—regular professional estimates must be taken. But the following statements may be of use to some. The Tank which I have described in page 101, 24 by 18 by 18 inches, cost me £3. 10s.; the small one of the same form mentioned above, 15 by 12 by 12 inches, was charged 21s. The sides of the former are of plate, those of the latter sheet glass. These prices are barely more than the actual cost of manufacture. The cylindrical 12 inch glass from Pellatt's cost 10s. 4d. Glass covers for these three tanks, cut to shape, were 10s. more.

Your Aquarium being brought home, fixed in its intended situation, and properly seasoned, the next thing is to fit it up as a dwelling for its living inhabitants. Two or three points may be noticed here.

Artificial Rocks, Corals, &c.—When the two longer sides only of the Tank are of glass, the two ends being made of slate, the latter should be veiled, by being made to imitate the irregular projections and ledges of rock, which may be done in a very picturesque manner. For this purpose, Roman, Portland, or other cement which hardens under water, should be employed; the slate must be faced with this, which while plastic may be fashioned into the semblance of rock. Pieces of branching corals may be set in it, if the effect of such accessories be thought desirable, and cavities may be formed here and there, into which the fragments of stone that support growing