SKETCH OF SPENCER F. BAIRD. 551 



works on birds, in one of wliich Thomas M. Brewer and Robert 

 Ridgway were his collaborators ; the scientific departments of the 

 Harpers' periodicals ; and numerous oSicial reports. 



The office of Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries was insti- 

 tuted, without salary, in 1874, with the attendant duties of in- 

 quiring into the decline of valuable fisheries on the coast and 

 lakes of the United States, investigating its causes, and seeking 

 for measures to prevent it and to restore the supply of food-fishes. 

 Prof. Baird was appointed to this office. Under his direction it 

 grew yearly in importance, and made the results of its work more 

 widely and directly felt in all parts of the United States. An 

 impulse was communicated by its workings to the efforts of the 

 several States in caring for their fish-supplies, which became more 

 systematic and regular; and the effects of its labors are now 

 palpable in all parts of the Union in the restocking of our rivers 

 and ponds, which has been to a large extent practically effected 

 through the co-operation of the Commissioner's industrious assist- 

 ants and the Sta^te and local authorities. Its work, according to 

 Prof. G. Brown Goode, is naturally divided into three sections : 

 The systematic investigation of the waters of the United States, 

 and the biological and physical problems which they present — in 

 which Prof. Baird included not only the life-histories of species 

 of economic value, but also the histories of the animals and plants 

 on which they feed or on which their food is nourished, the his- 

 tories of their enemies and friends, and of the friends and foes of 

 their enemies and friends, as well as the currents, temperatures, 

 and other physical phenomena of the waters in relation to migra- 

 tion, reproduction, and growth ; the investigation of the methods 

 of fishing, past and present, and the statistics of production and 

 commerce of fishery products, with particular attention to the 

 influence of man upon their abundance ; and the introduction and 

 multiplication of useful food-fishes throughout the country, espe- 

 cially in waters under the jurisdiction of the General Govern- 

 ment, or those common to several States, none of which might 

 feel willing to make expenditures for the benefit of the others. 

 The published reports of this commission, which seem to grow in 

 volume every year, form extensive treasuries of knowledge on 

 every subject which can be referred to these three headings. 

 By means of these reports, and his various articles bearing on 

 ichthyology, he was instrumental, according to Mr. W. H. Dall, 

 " in bringing together for the use and benefit of the English-speak- 

 ing public the largest body of facts relating to fish and fisheries 

 ever prepared and digested for such purposes by any individual 

 or organization. Recognized by experts of foreign countries with 

 one accord as the most eminent living authority on economic 

 ichthyology, America owes to his fostering care and unwearied 



