as far as possible with the available funds and personnel. The 

 major part of the general program was carried out by independent 

 investigators. Many distinguished scholars were attracted by the 

 facilities of the laboratory, but even more by the scientific 

 standing and dynamic personality of its director. 



Baird's guiding spirit in the study of fisheries problems was 

 not lost with his death. With modifications and changes his spirit 

 has continued to the present time. He undoubtedly was the first 

 fishery biologist in this country. His understanding of fishery 

 problems is clearly expressed in the following excerpts from his 

 paper read at the International Commission held at Halifax in 1877 

 (Baird, 1889). 



"While it is probable that the supply of fish on the outer banks 

 and in the deep sea, away from the immediate coast, is as great as 

 that of former years, a lamentable falling off is to be appreciated 

 in the capture of anadromous fish, such as the shad, salmon, and 

 the alewife, as well as of many species belonging immediately to 

 the coast, such as the striped bass, the scup, and other fish. 



"Fortunately, it is believed they are capable of remedy by 

 proper legislation and protection, artificial propagation, etc. , 

 and that we may look forward in the distant future to a very 

 considerable return to the former very desirable state and con- 

 dition of the fisheries The status of fish in the sea is 



very largely determined by the question of temperature. 



'^he human race is more concerned in the movements and 

 migrations of fish than in the question of their permanent abode. 

 It is when they are aggregated in large bodies, and moving from 

 place to place, either under the stimulus of search for food or 

 other causes, that they furnish the best opportunity to man for 

 their capture and utilization. 



"That fish of many varieties have decreased greatly in 

 abundance within the historic period in all parts of the world is 

 well established, the reduction in some cases being truly enormous. 

 This, however, applied only to certain varieties, especially of 

 the anadromous fish, or those running up the rivers from the sea 

 to spawn, and to the more inshore forms. The most indubitable 

 cases of diminution are those of the shad, fresh-water herring, 

 salmon,, and striped bass. On the other hand, there is no reason 

 to suppose that the cod, mackerel, bluefish, and the sea herring 

 have been reduced essentially, if at all, in numbers, the stock of 

 these fishes being from year to year about the same, and an 

 apparent diminution in one region being balanced by a greater supply 

 in another. 



"The causes of this variation in abundance, so far as they 

 can be detected, may be considered under two heads: first, the 

 natural, or uncontrollable; and, second, the artificial, or those 

 connected with the interference of man. Where the former alone 

 are responsible there may be a hope of a return to original abundance; 

 man's influence acts persistently and with increasing effect through- 

 out long continued years. " 



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