LETTERS FROM PROF. AGASSIZ. 185 



I would gladly go to any expense to procure collections 

 from all the intermediate stations and from the different 

 river basins. Could you let me have as complete a collec- 

 tion as can be made from Lake Erie? and mention such 

 gentlemen in other parts of the State of Ohio to whom I 

 could apply for the fishes of the Muskingum, Scioto, Miami, 

 Maumee and Sandusky Rivers, besides the main course of 

 the Ohio, and also from the headwaters of that river in 

 Pennsylvania, and its tributaries from Virginia, Kentucky 

 and Indiana? 



You would confer a great favor upon me in aiding me in 

 this investigation, and since the state of my health prevents 

 me from harder work, I should like to devote myself to 

 such studies while I can. 



With great regard, Yours Very Truly, 



L. Agassiz. 



Dr. Jared p. Kirtland. 



Cambridge, August^lD, 1853. 

 My Dear Sir: 



Your letter, dated Detroit 14th, gave me the 



greatest pleasure, for I could not account for your long 



silence and was apprehensive that you did not care to let 



me hear from you again. 



I am very sorry that the barrel of Mackerel* has been 



- A barrel of fishes, preserved in alcohol, embracing most of the species found 

 within the waters of the State of Ohio, collected with great labor and expense 

 by Dr. Kirtland for Prof. Agassiz, was opened by a blundering person, directed 

 to open a kit of Mackerel, who, supposing the contents to be spoiled flsh, 

 promptly wheeled them to the barn yard and buried them under a compost 

 heap, and reported the Mackerel as entirely ruined. A week or more passed 

 before his mistake was discovered, and not until every specimen was completely 

 destroyed. J. P. K. 



X 



