Geographical distribution. Abundance, Reproduction, etc. , with 

 detailed subdivisions under each one. A questionnaire containing 

 88 different items was included in order to facilitate the inquiries 

 conducted among the fishermen. The scope of the highly compre- 

 hensive program is complete enough to be useful today; marine 

 biologists of today would probably only rephrase it, using modern 

 terminology. During the first year of operations conducted at 

 Woods Hole, Baird and his associates laid down the foundation of 

 the new branch of science which we now call fishery biology or 

 fishery science. 



Edwards, whom Baird appointed as pilot and collector to 

 continue the work which started in June 1871 at Woods Hole, was 

 a most remarkable man. Without a formal scientific education 

 he was a born naturalist who possessed the essential characteristics 

 of a true scientist, with great ability for accurate observation, 

 correct recording of facts, and enthusiastic devotion to the study 

 of nature. Since the time of his appointment until his death on 

 April 5, 1919, Edwards remained in the continuous service of the 

 Fisheries Station at Woods Hole and became the person most 

 familiar to the biologists working there. Devoid of any vanity he 

 unselfishly assisted many scientists engaged on various research 

 problems. No wonder, therefore, that his name was frequently 

 mentioned in the many papers, especially those dealing with the 

 local marine fauna. For more than 30 years he kept daily records 

 of sea-water temperature and density at Woods Hole, recorded the 

 catches of fish from the pounds, noted the appearance of sea birds 

 and their nesting, and recorded the results of seining and dredging. 

 Shore seining seemed to be his favorite occupation in which he 

 engaged with an unquenchable enthusiasm. He frequently rowed his 

 heavy skiff, loaded with a 200-foot seine, five or six miles and 

 after seining for several hours returned home in darkness. 



In a letter on file in the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, Edwin 

 Linton writes that Edwards' ability to forecast the weather for many 

 hours ahead seemed uncanny to inlanders not familiar with the sea. 

 He adds that "l think of Vinal's mind, when dealing with nature, as 

 mirroring .... the region from Narragansett Bay to Monomoy, 

 and I do not know how much farther. The set of the tides seemed 

 to be in his mind as a moving picture which he could refer to on the 

 moment, so that it was much easier to ask Vinal when it would be 

 low water at Katuma Bay, on the coming Saturday, or when the tide 

 would begin to make to the eastward at Quick's Hole on the following 

 Monday .... than it would be to attempt to work it out from the 

 tide tables. " 



Edwards' enthusiasm for observation and collecting was known 

 to Baird. This probably explains that in making his appointment he 

 stipulated that "Mr. Edwards was to do no regular work on Sunday. " 

 Edwards' services to the Fish Commission and to the biologists who 

 came later to work at Woods Hole were recognized by many prominent 



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