He also thought that research and education should not be divorced. 

 As a practical person he believed that public support would be 

 effective in obtaining the necessary appropriations by Congress for 

 the construction of a good marine station. 



The scientific work conducted at the station during the ensuing 

 years was carried out along the lines already established by explor- 

 atory studies of New England waters, with greater emphasis on 

 developing practical methods of artificial propagation of fishes and 

 in formulating a system for collecting statistical data. Zoological 

 research was in the hands of specialists, with Verrill as head of 

 the section of marine invertebrates and E. B. Wilson as his out- 

 standing assistant (fig. 13). The fact that this eminent American 

 embryologist and cytologist was associated with the laboratory 

 during the earliest years of its existence has remained a source of 

 pride to many biologists who during the past 80 years were employed 

 by the U. S. Fisheries Laboratory at Woods Hole. Studies of fish 

 and fisheries were continued under the supervision of Goode, while 

 Baird concentrated his efforts in obtaining land and necessary funds 

 for the laboratory. 



In the scientific circles of his time Baird was recognized as 

 an organizer and administrator of the highest rank. He had a rare 

 faculty of adapting himself with unusual tact to subordinate positions, 

 as can be seen from his work for nearly 30 years when he devoted 

 his principal efforts to the organization of the National Museum. 

 Moreover, through his position as Assistant Secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution he obtained cooperation of nearly every 

 branch of the Government. In spite of the well-known fact that his 

 chief, I. Henry, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, a physicist, 

 had little or no fondness for zoology, the relationship between the two 

 men remained harmonious. Upon the death of Henry in 187 8, Baird 

 succeeded him as Secretary and assumed an even greater burden of 

 administrative work. In his discussions he displayed a remarkable 

 ability to convince his listeners and secure their assistance. This 

 was so well known in Congressional circles, where Baird was a 

 frequent witness at hearings of various committees, that one influential 

 Senator was quoted as saying: "l am willing to vote the money asked 

 for by Prof. Baird, for he will get two dollars worth for every dollar 

 we give him, one-half by direct purchase and one-half by gift. " This 

 reputation helped Baird in obtaining Congressional appropriation for 

 the construction of the Fisheries Station, since the increased scope 

 of activities of the Fish Commission required larger and more permanent 

 accommodations than those provided by the Light-House Board. 



The power of persuasion of this remarkable man was so great 

 that he was equally successful in dealing with college professors, 

 students, local politicians. State Fish Commissioners, Senators, 

 Congressmen, and business officials. In his attitude to others he 

 was never condescending, vain, or "highbrow", but always tried to 

 explain the merits of his point in terms understandable to others. 



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