country. Liaison with eminent institutions such as the biology and veterinary department at the State University of New York at Buffalo and at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York; Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo, New York; The Marine Sciences Division-U.S. Navy Missile Center-located at Point Mugu, California; Dept. of Marine Biology at the University of Guelph, Canada; Department of Ichthyology at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and the Aquatic Animal Medicine Laboratory at Texas A & M University are but some of the important authorities with whom we have worked with and exchanged information. In conclusion, data learned during our years of maintaining and caring for marine mammals has at times, proven to be useful in fields pursued by researchers that are not directly considered to be biologically science oriented. This can be confirmed by reading the enclosed letter sent to Dr. Thurman Grafton, by a graduate student in the College of Architecture at the Arizona State University-a copy of which was sent to Mr. Donald Fuhrman sometime ago. It especially is interesting to note that, Dr. Grafton was able to quickly contribute ideas on the Architect student's request for improvement suggestions that should go into the design of a dolphin research center, based solely on the work he has done with our dolphins here at the Aquarium of Niagara Falls, USA. Mr. DONALD FUHRMAN, UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, General Manager, Aquarium of Niagara Falls, Inc., DEAR MR. FUHRMAN: Yes, we are very interested in monitoring sonic emissions of Inia and Sotalia. I have been attempting to get our new highfrequency tape recorder working before we come. We are only three or four months behind our contemplated schedule. If you feel it is still satisfactory, we will plan to come in February with our tape recorder and videocorder equipment. I will probably bring several students in my marine mammal course at the same time. Very truly yours, HOWARD E. WINN, Professor of Oceanography. STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO, Mr. DONALD J. FUHRMAN, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, Buffalo, N.Y., December 6, 1966. DEAR DON: Enclosed for your information is a copy of the letter I received from a graduate student of architecture at the Arizona State University who is interested in designing an aquarium for research purposes. Also enclosed is my somewhat belated reply to him. I thought your staff might be interested in knowing that such studies were underway and would like to see my comments on the subject. The same excuse that I used in the first paragraph of Mr. Monacchio's letter is the reason why you have not received a formal written report on the autopsy of the harbor seal. Not only have I been busy personally, but the technician who is processing the tissues for microscopic sections has been snowed under as well, since the other technician is hospitalized. I hope to be able to get the wrapped up by the first of next week. Sincerely, THURMAN S. GRAFTON, D.V.M., Director. Mr. MARCO F. MONACCHIO, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, Buffalo, N.Y., December 6, 1966. DEAR MR. MONACCHIO: First, I must apologize for my delay in responding to your letter of inquiry dated October 21, 1966, but this has been an extremely busy period for me in that we are finalizing plans for the creation of one of the largest University Health Science Centers in the country. Your interest in the use of dolphins (I presume you mean bottle-nosed porpoises) as a biological model for scientific research is very interesting, and the problem of architectural design of facilities to handle such a research project would be quite a challenge. My contribution to your work will be based solely upon my limited experience with the commercial Aquarium of Niagara Falls and problems that have arisen incidental to the veterinary care of their animals. The most significant problems could be either eliminated or aleviated by better design of the physical facility to be categorized as follows: 1. Sanitation--To maintain a healthy aquatic environment for these aquatic mammals requires a constant filtration of their water to remove particulate matter. Most aquaria have filtration systems which are not capable of removing particles as small as bacteria and viruses. If a system could be designed which would remove adequately the more common bacterial pathogens, this would go a long way towards elimination of disease problems in the aquarium. Virus filtration is recognized as too demanding for practical installation. It would seem that removal of bacteria by filtration is feasible. 2. Capture and Restraint-While some observations could be made on a free-swimming animal, there are many occasions when it is desirable to capture and restrain the dolphin for the purpose of collecting biological samples for laboratory analysis, administering treatment, or performing surgical procedures incident to research. A basic truism stated by the men who works with these animals every day that, "As long as a dolphin is in one foot of water, he has a marked advantage over man," is very true. Therefore, your design should include provision for coaxing, herding, or otherwise diverting an individual animal from a large exercise tank to a smaller tank which could be drained to render the animal helpless, or have a slatted wooden floor which could be raised to lift the animal out of the water. Either alternative would have the same effect; i.e., remove the animal from its aquatic habitat for ease in handling by man. 3. Traumatic Injuries--While the greatest number of traumatic injuries seen in these animals is a result of their own play and sometimes agressive competition for food, or favors, there have been some traumatic injuries directly related to the design of the facilities. By this is meant that stress should be laid on the design so that there are no sharp projecting edges, corners, or projections upon which the animal can self-inflict injuries. This includes not only the surfaces of the tanks, but also the air space and walls immediately above the surface for a height of 15 ft. because of the great leaps these animals are capable of performing. Future correspondence on this subject would not create an imposition. On the contrary, I would appreciate your keeping me posted on your progress and would further appreciate having a copy of your finished thesis. In our long-range plans for this developing Health Science Center, we have recognized the fact that there will be need for an aquarium to support, not just the marine mammals, but other forms of marine life as well which are utilized in research and teaching by our Department of Biology and the Biomedical Sciences. I shall be looking forward to hearing from you in the near future. Sincerely, THURMAN S. GRAFTON, D.V.M., Director. [From the Buffalo (N.Y.) Courier Express] STUDY OF SONAR SYSTEMS-TALK OF DOLPHINS IS RECORDED NIAGARA FALLS.--Does a sacred dolphin "talk" to a pink dolphin? The answer to that question is being sought by biologist William E. Schevill and acoustical engineer William E. Watkins, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. They hope it is in some 30,000 feet of tape recording of sounds made by the rare marine animals in the 15-foot tank at the Aquarium of Niagara Falls where the dolphins are housed. Recordings. The two men lowered a microphone into the tank after the aquarium closed Monday night and took recordings from then until early Tuesday. The tapes will be studied at Woods Hole Institute and hopes are that they will provide important data on the natural sonar systems of dolphins. The research is important to a U.S. Navy study of the dolphins sonar system and their ability to differentiate between underwater objects. Sonar. The Navy theorizes the dolphin could be trained as an underwater watch dog and aid man in future attempts to conquer the hostile environment in ocean depths. If man learns enough about the dolphin, he may be able to use the animal's sonar warning system to his advantage for protection under water. The two scientists came here after listening to tapes of the two marine animals made by Michael L. Clark, assistant animal trainer at the aquarium. This was the first tape of the sounds made by either animal. Both the sacred dolphin and the pink dolphin were placed in the Aquarium last November, after they had been captured near the headwaters of the Amazon River by an Aquarium expedition last October. First time. This is the first time the rare four-foot sacred dolphin and the seven-foot pink dolphin, a more primitive specimen less advanced on the evolutionary scale, have schooled in the same water. Winfield H. Brady, museum director, said that raised the possibility of reasearch into communication between the two dolphins of different species; study as to whether the sounds recorded represented sonar impulses or attempts at communication between the two animals, and whether the two fresh water dolphins have as sophisticated a sonar system as the more common salt water dolphins. Schevill is an eminent marine biologist who in 1956 submitted the first reported experiments on dolphin sonar. He has since conducted extensive experiments in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. [From the Niagara Falls Gazette, Saturday, Apr. 9, 1966] DOLPHIN TALK IS RECORDED Dr. David K. Caldwell, curator of ichthyology at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History in California, is conducting research experiments at the Niagara Falls Aquarium. Dr. Caldwell is being assisted by his wife, Mrs. Melba C. Caldwell, an animal behaviorist, who serves as research associate at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Using specially built electronic devices attached to underwater listening gear, the Caldwells are recording the range of sounds made by the sacred, pink and the marine bottlenose dolphins at the aquarium. The research project is being conducted under grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Philosophical Society and the Office of Naval Research. Dr. Caldwell also serves as research associate of the Florida Museum and collaborator in ichthylogy for the Institute of Jamaica. In addition to her post with the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Mrs. Caldwell is a staff research associate of the Allan Handcock Foundation of the University of Southern California. The Caldwells have co-authored several books about their research projects. [From the Merchandiser, Feb. 22, 1971] IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE POOL? Misty and Sailor, the two bottle nose dolphin stars of the hourly show at the Aquarium of Niagara Falls, N.Y., recently underwent their semiannual medical checkup to insure continued good health, and received vaccinations to ward off diseases that can result from their strict fish diet. Also included in the checkup were three Aquarium sea lions, a fresh water dolphin, and two harbor seals. In addition, Misty and Sailor are doing their best to help Dr. Elias Cohen of Roswell Park Memorial Institute in his search for better identification of rare blood types in humans. Since dolphin blood is similar in many respects to human blood types, Misty and Sailor "donate" samples for this research. Also, the blood samples advise Aquarium staff members of any infection, allergy or pregnancy in the dolphins. The Aquarium of Niagara Falls, the first inland oceanarium to manufacture synthetic salt water follows this procedure for the checkups: After the huge 100,000 gallon center tank is emptied of its man-made sea water, an action which doesn't harm the dolphins, as they breathe air through blow holes atop their heads, the dolphins are "beached" on stretchers as is Sailor in the picture, by Aquarium attendants, the serums are injected, blood samples taken, measuring and weighing is completed, the dolphins are released and the pool refilled. Dr. Thurman S. Grafton DVM, Director of Laboratory Animal Facilities at the State University of New York at Buffalo and Special Consultant to the Aquarium, administered the injections. Stephen H. Spotte, general curator at the Aquarium, is responsible for the care of over 40 displays at the Aquarium of Niagara Falls. Accurate daily records are kept of the diets of the fish and sea mammals housed at the Aquarium. In addition, records of vitamins and minerals given the Aquarium specimens are maintained. Within minutes of the completion of the twice-annual medical checkup, both Sailor and Misty were back in the swim of things, ready for the next day's series of hourly shows. [From the Olean Times Herald, Apr. 27, 1971] DOLPHINS CONTRIBUTE TO ROSWELL RESEARCH Misty, one of three performing dolphins at the Aquarium of Niagara Falls, N.Y., is placed on a stretcher recently at the Aquarium. The animals must be tied down before blood samples can be taken from them. The blood is being used in human medical research by scientists at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo. Dr. Elias Cohen, research scientist, believes that studies of dolphin blood may reveal better methods of typing rare human blood groups. Dr. Cohen takes blood samples from the Aquarium's dolphins four times a year. The samples serve the dual purpose of telling the Aquarium staff whether the dolphins are in good health. Measurements are along the body unless otherwise noted. Addendum No. 2 WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y., February 22, 1972. Mr. ROBERT MOORE, Jr. Niagara Falls, N.Y. DEAR MR. MOORE: This is in response to your request for a statement regarding the professional care of marine mammals as provided by the Aquarium of Niagara Falls, U.S.A. I have been retained as a veterinary consultant by the Aquarium of Niagara Falls since 1966. During this time, I organized and implemented a preventive medicine program that is still in use. I have provided on-call consultation and treatment when clinical diseases arose. I have participated as a professional collaborator in research in comparative medicine involving some of these marine animals. My professional activity with these marine mammals has resulted in the publication of several scientific papers. Copies of some of these are enclosed. (Not enclosed: available upon request) My active participation in professional meetings with other veterinarians interested in aquatic mammals led to my becoming a charter member of the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine. This professional organization has accomplished more in the development of scientific knowledge about marine animals, their normal physiology, as well as diseases and problems of maintenance in captivity in the last five years, than had been developed in all time preceding that. The specific preventive medicine program at the Aquarium of Niagara Falls includes, but is not limited to, the following: A. Physical examination. All newly-arrived marine mammals are examined soon after arrival for any evidence of pre-existing disease or illness associated with the stress of shipment. B. Isolation. Insofar as the physical resources of the aquarium are capable, newly arrived marine animals are physically separated not only from |