AQUARIUM

Planning, constructing, stocking, and maintaining the N.J. State Aquarium at Camden (one of the largest in the country), which took seven years to construct and cost over $52,000,000. Without access to fresh seawater, the aquarium makes its own ``seasoup'' a batch at a time with 160,000 pounds of table salt plus nearly 100,000 pounds of other chemicals. Most interesting are the quotes, from scientists, scuba divers, and others involved in the aquarium's construction and daily work; Riley stresses the importance of careful management of sea resources and study of the sea as the final frontier. Presented as a journal, her narrative is somewhat choppy and difficult to follow. Color photos are plentiful but uncaptioned, and sometimes poorly placed. Segaloff's Reef Comes To Life(1991) tells a similar story with greater clarity and more striking photos. Of special interest to those who live in or near New Jersey. Brief glossary; index. (Nonfiction. 10-12)