PUBLICATIONS OF SPENCER F. BAIRD. XIII 



losopbical interpretation of the law. In making his original plans the 

 Commissioner insisted that to study only the food-fishes would be of little 

 importance, and that useful conclusions must needs rest upon a broad 

 foundation of investigations purely scientific in character. The life his- 

 tory of species of economic value should be understood from beginning 

 to end, but no less requisite is it to know the histories of the animals 

 and plants upon which they feed or upon which their food is nourished ; 

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

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

 other physical i)henomena of the waters in relation to migration, repro- 

 duction, and growth. A necessary accompaniment to this division is 

 the amassing of material for research to be stored in the national and 

 other museums for future use. 



2. The investigation of the methods of fisheries, past and present, 

 and the statistics of production and commerce of fishery products. 

 Man being one of the chief destroyers of fish, his influence upon their 

 abundance must be studied. Fishery methods and apparatus must be 

 examined and compared with those of other lands, that the use of those 

 which threaten the destruction of useful fishes may be discouraged, and 

 that those which are inetiicient may be replaced by others more service- 

 able. Statistics of industry and trade must be secured for the use of 

 Congress in making treaties or imposing tariffs, to show to producers 

 the best markets, and to consumers where and with what theii: needs 

 may be supplied. 



3. The introduction and multiplication of useful food-fishes through- 

 out the country, especially in waters under the jurisdiction of the gen- 

 eral government, or those common to several States, none of which 

 might feel willing to make expenditures for the benefit of the others* 

 This work, which was not contemplated when the Commission was estab- 

 lished, was first undertaken at the instance of the American Fish Cul- 

 tural Association, whose representatives induced Congress to make a 

 special appropriation for the purpose. 



IX. 



Comment upon the facts presented in this biographical sketch seems 

 to be unnecessary. Future historians of American science will be better 

 able than are we to estimate justly the value of the contributions to 

 scientific literature which are enumerated in the bibliography ; but no 

 one not living in the present can form an accurate idea of the personal 

 influence of a leader upon his associates, and upon the progress of 

 thought in his special department, nor can such an influence as this 

 well be set down in words. This influence is apparently due not only to 

 extraordinary skill in organization, to great power of application and 

 concentration of thought constantly applied, and to a i^hilosophical and 

 comj)rehensive mind, but to an entire and self-sacrificing devotion to the 

 interests of his own work and that of others. 



