738 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS. 



for the use and benefit of the English-speaking public the largest body 

 of facts relating to fish and fisheries ever prepared and digested for 

 such purposes by any individual or organization. Eecognized by ex- 

 perts of foreign countries with one accord, as the most eminent living 

 authority on economic ichthyology, America owes to his fostering care 

 and unwearied labor the existence of a whole generation of ichthyolo- 

 gists, breeders of fishes, and inventors of appliances of all sorts for use 

 in connection with the taking, preservation, and increase of these ani- 

 mals. So thoroughly is this understood by all who are in any way 

 acquainted with American fish and fisheries, that to them this state- 

 ment will appear a truism. 



It does not enter into the purpose of this address to enumerate the 

 economic results of the Commission which grew into such stately pro- 

 portions under his skillful and progressive leadership, nor yet to 

 enumerate the multitudinous researches in pure as well as economic 

 biology for Avhich this organization has furnished material and means. 

 No more emphatic object-lesson of the vital relations existing between 

 research, as such, and the promotion of the material interests of man- 

 kind has ever been furnished to the so-called "practical man" than 

 that afforded by the work of the [Jnited States Fish Commission as 

 directed by Professor Baird, 



Whether germane to the subject of scientific research or not, the 

 most narrow specialist can hardly grudge an allusion to the grandeur 

 of the methods by which the food supply of a nation was provided, 

 hundreds of rivers stocked with fish, and the very depths of ocean 

 re-populated. Typically American we may call them in their audacity 

 and their success. The fishery boards of foreign countries, first quietly 

 indifferent, then loudly incredulous, in due time became interested 

 inquirers and enthusiastic followers. In a few years we may fairly 

 expect to see the food supply of the entire civilized world materially 

 increased, with all the benefits which that implies, and this result will 

 in the main be owing to the unremunerated and devoted exertions of 

 Spencer F. Baird. \ 



