THE COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES 423 



The result of these letters and conferences was that a 

 joint resolution (H. R. 468, 41 st Congress, 3rd session) was 

 introduced on January 28, 1871, to the following effect: 



"That the President be, and he hereby is, authorized 

 and required to appoint, by and with the advice and con- 

 sent of the Senate, from among the civil officers or 

 employees of the Government, one person of proved 

 scientific and practical acquaintance with the fishes of 

 the coast, 3 to be Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, to 

 serve without additional salary. 



"That it shall be the duty of said Commissioner to 

 prosecute investigations and inquiries on the subject, with 

 the view of ascertaining whether any and what diminution 

 in the number of the food fishes of the coast and the lakes 

 of the United States has taken place; and, if so, to what 

 causes the same is due; and, also, whether any and what 

 protective, prohibitory, or precautionary measures should 

 be adopted in the premises, and to report upon the same to 

 Congress." 



This bill was drawn up by Mr. Edmunds and Professor 

 Baird with the idea that its form would effectually pre- 

 clude the appointment of any mere political candidate to a 

 place requiring the utmost scientific knowledge; or the sug- 

 gestion on the part of the little-minded that the Commis- 

 sioner was actuated by pecuniary motives in recommend- 

 ing the passage of the resolution. 



The resolution was passed by both houses, and an 

 entirely new and onerous function was placed on Pro- 

 fessor Baird's shoulders. 



3 The framers of the resolution little thought that, after the death 

 of Professor Baird, a President of each great party would violate 

 both the spirit and the letter of this law by appointing a purely 

 political follower, not a civil officer, to this important post. 



