XII PUBLICATIONS OF SPENCER F. BAIRD. 



large and important in 1857 that the so-called "National Collection" at 

 that time acquired were small in comparison. 



The National Museum then had a double origin. Its actual although 

 not its legal nucleus was the collection gathered in the Smithsonian 

 building prior to 1857. Its methods of administration, which were in fact 

 the very same that had been developed by Professor Baird in Carlisle 

 as early as 1845, are those which are still in use, and which have stood 

 the test of thirty years without any necessity for their modification be- 

 coming apparent. In the bibliography below is reprinted from the fifth 

 annual report of the Smithsonian Institution, now exceedingly rare, a 

 report by the assistant secretary in charge of the natural history depart- 

 ment for the year 1850, which enumerates the specimens belonging to 

 the Museum on January 1, 1851, including a full account of his own 

 deposit. 



Having thus almost from the very outset been associated with Pro- 

 fessor Henry in the organization of the Smithsonian Institution, his 

 course since his accession to the secretaryship has been a consistent 

 continuation of that which had for twenty-eight years been adopted. 



VIII. 



The work of the Fish Commission, in one of its aspects, may perhaps 

 be regarded as the most prominent of the present efforts of the govern- 

 ment in aid of aggressive biological research. 



Oji the 9th of February, 1874, Congress .passed a joint resolution 

 which authorized the appointment of a Commissioner of Fish and Fish- 

 eries. The duties of the Commissioner were thus defined : " To prose- 

 cute investigations on the subject (of the diminution of valuable fishes) 

 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." 



The resolution establishing the oflSce of Commissioner of Fisheries 

 required that the person to be appointed should be a civil ofidcer of the 

 government, of proved scientific and practical acquaintance with the 

 fishes of the coast, to serve without additional salary. The choice was 

 thus practically limited to a single man. Professor Baird, at that time 

 assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was appointed and 

 at once entering upon his duties soon developed a systematic scheme 

 of investigation. 



The Fish Commission now tills a place tenfold more extensive and 

 useful than at first. Its work is naturally divided into three sections : 



1. The systematic investigation of the waters of the (Jnited States 

 and tlie biological and physical problems which they present. The 

 scientitic studies of the Commission are based upon a liberal and phi- 



