5 2 Memorial of George Brozvn Goode. 



tion of those fishes, and, contrary to the conchisions of former laborers in the same 

 field, had recognized for them a number of different faunal areas. It is to be hoped 

 that this may yet be given to the world. 



Morphological and descriptive ichthyology were not cultivated to the exclusion 

 of what is regarded as more practical features. In connection with his official 

 duties as an officer of the United States Fish Commission he studied the subject of 

 pisciculture in all its details. Among his many contributions to the subject are one 

 on The First Decade of the United States Commission, its plan of work and accom- 

 plished results, scientific and economical (iS8o), another treating of the Epochs in 

 the History of Fish Culture ( i8Si), and two encyclopedic articles — The Fisheries of 

 the World (1S82), and the one entitled Pisciculture, in the Encyclopedia Britannica 

 (1885). 



The great work of his life. Oceanic Ichthyology [says Doctor Jordan], was, how- 

 ever, written during the period of his directorship of the National Museum, and it 

 was published but a month before his death. Almost simultaneously with this were 

 other important publications of the National Museum, which were his also in a 

 sense, for they would never have been undertaken except for his urgent wish and 

 encouragement. If a personal word may be pardoned, The Fishes of North and 

 Middle America, which closely followed Oceanic Ichthyology, would never have 

 been written except for my friend's repeated insistence and generous help. 



The first recorded scientific paper of Doctor Goode is a note^ On the Occurrence of 

 the Bill-fish in fresh Water in the Connecticut River. The next is a critical discus- 

 sion of the answers to the question Do Snakes Swallow their Young? In this paper 

 he shows that there is good reason to believe that in certain viviparous snakes, the 

 young seek refuge in the stomach of the mother when frightened, and that they 

 come out unharmed when the reason for their retreat has passed. 



The first of the many technical and descriptive papers on fishes was the Catalogue 

 of the Fishes of the Bermudas,^ published in 1876. This is a model record of field 

 observations and is one of the best of local catalogues. Doctor Goode retained his 

 interest in this outpost of the great West Indian fauna, and from time to time 

 recorded the various additions made to his first Bermudan catalogue. 



After this followed a large number of papers on fishes, chiefly descriptions of 

 species or monographs of groups. The descriptive papers were nearlj^ all written in 

 association with his excellent friend, Doctor Tarleton H. Bean, then Curator of Fishes 

 in the National Museum. 



In monographic work Doctor Goode took the deepest interest, and he delighted 

 especially in the collection of historic data concerning groups of species. The 

 quaint or poetical features of such work were never overlooked by him. Notable 

 among these monographs are those of the Menhaden, the Trunk-fishes, and the Sword- 

 fishes. 



The economic side of science also interested him more and more. That scientific 

 knowledge could add to human wealth or comfort was no reproach in his eyes. In 

 his notable monograph of the Menhadens the economic value as food or manure of 

 this plebeian fish received the careful attention which he had given to the problems 

 of pure science. 



Doctor Goode's power in organizing and coordinating practical investigations was 

 shown in his monumental work'* on the American Fisheries for the Tenth Census 



' American Naturalist, V, p. 487. 



^Bulletin No. 5, United States National Museum. 



3 The Natural and Economical History of the American Menhaden. In Report of 

 United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Part 5. Washington, 1879. 



■t The Fisheries and Fishery Industry of the United States. Prepared through the 

 cooperation of the Commissioner of Fisheries and the Superintendent of the Tenth 

 Census, Washington, 1884. 



