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The Detail That Goes Into Moving 2.8 Million Dead Fish How to Move 2.8 Million Dead Fish
(35 minutes later)
This is a fish story. And all of it is true.This is a fish story. And all of it is true.
It is actually about 2.8 million fish, all dead and preserved in jars, except for the big ones, which are carefully preserved in tanks.It is actually about 2.8 million fish, all dead and preserved in jars, except for the big ones, which are carefully preserved in tanks.
They are all going on a little trip. “Five hundred yards,” said Scott A. Schaefer, who is in charge of looking after them.They are all going on a little trip. “Five hundred yards,” said Scott A. Schaefer, who is in charge of looking after them.
“No, not even,” said Steven Warsavage, who is in charge of moving them.“No, not even,” said Steven Warsavage, who is in charge of moving them.
They make up the ichthyology collection of the American Museum of Natural History, ichthyology being the branch of zoology that deals with fish. The move began last week, even as a court fight continued involving residents who oppose the reason for the move: the museum’s $383 million plan for a five-story addition on the Columbus Avenue side of the museum. Opponents fear the effects on Theodore Roosevelt Park, which is on the museum’s grounds.They make up the ichthyology collection of the American Museum of Natural History, ichthyology being the branch of zoology that deals with fish. The move began last week, even as a court fight continued involving residents who oppose the reason for the move: the museum’s $383 million plan for a five-story addition on the Columbus Avenue side of the museum. Opponents fear the effects on Theodore Roosevelt Park, which is on the museum’s grounds.
The museum is relocating the fish to make way for the long-planned addition, to be known as the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation. The center will cover space now occupied by three smaller structures connected to the main section of the museum that are to be demolished. The fish collection has been kept in one of them for more than 70 years.The museum is relocating the fish to make way for the long-planned addition, to be known as the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation. The center will cover space now occupied by three smaller structures connected to the main section of the museum that are to be demolished. The fish collection has been kept in one of them for more than 70 years.
The three structures are nondescript and easy to overlook. The Gilder Center will not be, with curving stone-and-glass walls, in contrast to the brick that dominates that side of the museum.The three structures are nondescript and easy to overlook. The Gilder Center will not be, with curving stone-and-glass walls, in contrast to the brick that dominates that side of the museum.
But the group opposing the Gilder Center addition, Community United to Protect Theodore Roosevelt Park, is not fighting the design. It says that with the addition, Theodore Roosevelt Park would not be a public park anymore, but would amount to a private campus for a private institution.But the group opposing the Gilder Center addition, Community United to Protect Theodore Roosevelt Park, is not fighting the design. It says that with the addition, Theodore Roosevelt Park would not be a public park anymore, but would amount to a private campus for a private institution.
The group’s lawyer argued in State Supreme Court in Manhattan that the Parks Department’s approval of the addition had violated the City Charter. The lawyer, Michael S. Hiller, also said in an interview that the Gilder Center addition should be required to undergo the kind of land use review that a private project would face.The group’s lawyer argued in State Supreme Court in Manhattan that the Parks Department’s approval of the addition had violated the City Charter. The lawyer, Michael S. Hiller, also said in an interview that the Gilder Center addition should be required to undergo the kind of land use review that a private project would face.
Justice Lynn R. Kotler ruled for the museum on Dec. 10. The group immediately filed an appeal and the Appellate Division issued a temporary restraining order while it considered the case.Justice Lynn R. Kotler ruled for the museum on Dec. 10. The group immediately filed an appeal and the Appellate Division issued a temporary restraining order while it considered the case.
Now the group is mustering the star power of the neighborhood. It videotaped a public service announcement with the tennis star Billie Jean King, who lives in the neighborhood. “I want the project to be stopped,” she said in the video.Now the group is mustering the star power of the neighborhood. It videotaped a public service announcement with the tennis star Billie Jean King, who lives in the neighborhood. “I want the project to be stopped,” she said in the video.
The Appellate Division’s temporary restraining order applied only to exterior work, not inside work such as moving the fish.The Appellate Division’s temporary restraining order applied only to exterior work, not inside work such as moving the fish.
Dr. Schaefer — whose titles at the museum include dean of science for collections, exhibitions and the public understanding of science — said the fish in the collection are like books in a library. The home they are leaving looks like the drab section of stacks in a large library where the public is not allowed. There are no soaring windows with views to inspire researchers and no impressive wooden tables where they might sit. The jars containing the fish rest on gray metal shelves.Dr. Schaefer — whose titles at the museum include dean of science for collections, exhibitions and the public understanding of science — said the fish in the collection are like books in a library. The home they are leaving looks like the drab section of stacks in a large library where the public is not allowed. There are no soaring windows with views to inspire researchers and no impressive wooden tables where they might sit. The jars containing the fish rest on gray metal shelves.
Some are tiny; some are huge. Two coelacanths, “our version of the T. Rex,” are so large they reside in a shiny trunk-size box. Scientists describe coelacanths as a fossil-like fish that time left behind. Dr. Schaefer said that until about 80 years ago, coelacanths — pronounced SEE-Luh-canths — were thought to have been extinct for 50 million years. Then they were discovered in the Indian Ocean. It turned out that they had survived more or less unchanged.Some are tiny; some are huge. Two coelacanths, “our version of the T. Rex,” are so large they reside in a shiny trunk-size box. Scientists describe coelacanths as a fossil-like fish that time left behind. Dr. Schaefer said that until about 80 years ago, coelacanths — pronounced SEE-Luh-canths — were thought to have been extinct for 50 million years. Then they were discovered in the Indian Ocean. It turned out that they had survived more or less unchanged.
Libraries have the Library of Congress classification system or the Dewey decimal system. The fish collection — which includes about 30 species that Dr. Schaefer discovered — has its own system. Similar to a library, however, every specimen has a number and a place on a shelf.Libraries have the Library of Congress classification system or the Dewey decimal system. The fish collection — which includes about 30 species that Dr. Schaefer discovered — has its own system. Similar to a library, however, every specimen has a number and a place on a shelf.
He reached for a jar, and it brought back memories. It was No. 229305, a cyphocharax spiluropsis, a freshwater fish found in parts of the Amazon River basin. The label said he had collected it on a trip to Bolivia in 1998.He reached for a jar, and it brought back memories. It was No. 229305, a cyphocharax spiluropsis, a freshwater fish found in parts of the Amazon River basin. The label said he had collected it on a trip to Bolivia in 1998.
So what about No. 1, the first fish in the museum catalog?So what about No. 1, the first fish in the museum catalog?
“I don’t think I can find it,” he said. “It’s wrapped up and ready to rock ‘n’ roll.”“I don’t think I can find it,” he said. “It’s wrapped up and ready to rock ‘n’ roll.”
Well, roll, anyway. The transport carts, custom-made with large rubber wheels, are supposed to minimize the rocking, jiggling and jostling.Well, roll, anyway. The transport carts, custom-made with large rubber wheels, are supposed to minimize the rocking, jiggling and jostling.
No. 1, by the way, is a European cyprinid, which Dr. Schaefer described as a relative of the carp minnow.No. 1, by the way, is a European cyprinid, which Dr. Schaefer described as a relative of the carp minnow.
The museum has had it for almost 150 years. It came from another collection, that of Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied, a Prussian who died in 1867, two years before the museum was founded.The museum has had it for almost 150 years. It came from another collection, that of Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied, a Prussian who died in 1867, two years before the museum was founded.
Besides presiding over a small state in what is now Germany, he was a naturalist who went on a stagecoach and steamboat expedition to the western United States in the 1830s. He got as far as Montana, having pushed on after an incident in Kansas. Soldiers at what became Fort Leavenworth confiscated the stash of brandy he had brought along, not for cocktails but for preserving the specimens he wanted to send home. (The museum now uses a solution that contains ethanol, not liquor.)Besides presiding over a small state in what is now Germany, he was a naturalist who went on a stagecoach and steamboat expedition to the western United States in the 1830s. He got as far as Montana, having pushed on after an incident in Kansas. Soldiers at what became Fort Leavenworth confiscated the stash of brandy he had brought along, not for cocktails but for preserving the specimens he wanted to send home. (The museum now uses a solution that contains ethanol, not liquor.)
For a brand-new museum, the prince’s collection was an opportunity, and it bought 2,000 fish and reptiles, along with 4,000 mounted birds and 600 mounted mammals. The museum said the price was £1,500, or about $200,000 today.For a brand-new museum, the prince’s collection was an opportunity, and it bought 2,000 fish and reptiles, along with 4,000 mounted birds and 600 mounted mammals. The museum said the price was £1,500, or about $200,000 today.
Dr. Schaefer said the museum wants to keep the fish collection on the campus during the Gilder Center construction because it is essential for research and teaching. “It’s difficult to do that if your resources are spread all over the tristate area,” he said. “It’s very difficult for the kind of science we do to be located apart from the resource base.”Dr. Schaefer said the museum wants to keep the fish collection on the campus during the Gilder Center construction because it is essential for research and teaching. “It’s difficult to do that if your resources are spread all over the tristate area,” he said. “It’s very difficult for the kind of science we do to be located apart from the resource base.”
The temporary storage area will have room for expansion — Dr. Schaefer said the museum can add as many as 20,000 fish to the collection a year — and the Gilder building will have even more space. Gone will be the gray metal shelves, replaced by a system of rolling shelves that can store more specimens in less space.The temporary storage area will have room for expansion — Dr. Schaefer said the museum can add as many as 20,000 fish to the collection a year — and the Gilder building will have even more space. Gone will be the gray metal shelves, replaced by a system of rolling shelves that can store more specimens in less space.
Mr. Warsavage, the museum’s director of construction, said the move was “really just a matter of choreography,” but it had to be done shelf by shelf. “We have to follow the exact sequence it’s laid out in now,” he said.Mr. Warsavage, the museum’s director of construction, said the move was “really just a matter of choreography,” but it had to be done shelf by shelf. “We have to follow the exact sequence it’s laid out in now,” he said.
Mr. Warsavage did not look nervous.Mr. Warsavage did not look nervous.
“Three months ago, you might’ve read my face differently,” he said. “We’ve done dry runs. We’ve done preparations. We’re eager to get off and running.”“Three months ago, you might’ve read my face differently,” he said. “We’ve done dry runs. We’ve done preparations. We’re eager to get off and running.”