II. The Next 64 Years (1887 to 1951) 



In March 1888 a new institution was incorporated in Woods 

 Hole under the name of the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL.). 

 On July 17 of that same year, a modest shingled building was 

 erected on a piece of land in close proximity to the U. S. Fisher- 

 ies grounds. The new institution was established at Woods Hole 

 by a group of university professors with very meagre financial 

 assets. They nnet with cordial support from, the Fisheries Lab- 

 oratory. For many years the sea water for the new laboratory 

 was supplied from the Fisheries pumping house and practical 

 assistance was given in the use of wharves, floating equipment, 

 and interchange of other services. Many of the MBL scientists 

 who became leaders of American biology spent several sum- 

 mers working at the Fisheries Laboratory. The MBL rapidly 

 outgrew the Fisheries Laboratory and became the leading marine 

 research institute of the country, but the spirit of cooperation 

 which prevailed throughout the history of Woods Hole has per- 

 sisted and greatly contributed to its growth as the scientific cen- 

 ter of marine research. 



Shortly after the death of its first Commissioner, the U. S. 

 Fish Commission was reorganized. As stated in the enabling act 

 of Congress, passed and approved in 1871, "the Commissioner 

 should be a civil officer of the Government, of proved scientific 

 and practical acquaintance with the fishes of the coast, who 

 should serve without additional compensation. " The text was 

 drawn jointly by Senator G. F, Edmunds and Baird, who insist- 

 ed on the inclusion of the noncompensation clause with the idea 

 that the phraseology of the bill would preclude the appointment 

 of a mere political candidate and eliminate any suggestion that 

 recommending the passage of the resolution was not voted by 

 selfish consideration of the first Commissioner (Dall, 1915). 

 The responsibilities of the Commissioner and the increased du- 

 ties of organizing the laboratory and research program impos- 

 ed a heavy financial burden on Baird. His request for an appro- 

 priation for furnishing adequate office space and living quarters 

 for his personnel at Woods Hole was denied, and before the 

 Government quarters were built he had to pay, out of his own 

 money, the rentals for an office building and for housing facili- 

 ties for his assistants. Shortly after his death. Congress cor- 

 rected the oversight by an appropriation of $25, 000 for the sup- 

 port of Baird's invalid widow and his daughter. 



Baird was succeeded as Commissioner of Fisheries by 

 George Brown Goode, his most competent assistant, an outstand- 

 ing ichthyologist and Director of the National Museum. The appoint- 

 ment was a tennporary one. In six months Goode (fig. 3) voluntar- 

 ily resigned his Commissionership in order to devote all his time 

 to the duties in the Museum.. In January 1888, an act of Congress 



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