Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/36

Rh small tanks which had been used for fresh water; but as it was necessary, during the unsuccessful experiments with the brown and red sea-weeds, to agitate and aërate the water, which had been rendered foul from the quantity of mucus or gelatinous matter generated during the decay of their fronds, until the whole had become oxydized, and the water rendered clear and fitted for another experiment, it was, therefore, for greater convenience, removed into a shallow earthen pan, and covered with a large glass shade to protect the surface of the water, as much as possible, from the dust and soot of the London atmosphere, and at the same time impede the evaporation. In this vessel then I had succeeded perfectly in keeping a large number of beautiful living specimens in a healthy condition up to the close of 1852. I therefore gave instructions for the making of a small tank as a more permanent reservoir, and one more adapted for carrying on my observations and investigations on the economy and habits of the inhabitants.

"From the experience I had obtained in my experiments with the fresh-water tank, I was induced to modify slightly the construction of this vessel; thus, at the back, or part towards the light, the framing was filled with slate in the same way as the ends and bottom; for I had found that the glass, originally employed, very soon became covered with a confervoid growth which had an unpleasing appearance to the eye, and in consequence of which I had been obliged to paint the glass on the exterior to prevent this growth from increasing to too great an extent,. [sic] It was also an unnatural mode of illumination, as all