THE SCIENTIST AND THE PRACTICAL MAN IN 

 FISHERIES WORK 



By Dr. Raymond C. Osburn 



Ohio State University 

 Columbus, Ohio 



In discussing the above topic it is not the purpose of the 

 writer to elaborate upon the special merits of the members 

 of either of these classes, nor to weigh the value of the efforts 

 of either against the other, but rather, to indicate the value 

 of cooperation and to show how the work of one class may 

 be furthered by that of the other. 



Before proceeding* with this it may be well to define clearly 

 what we understand by the terms "scientist" and "practical 

 man." Briefly stated, the scientist is engaged in discovering 

 new facts and general truths and in making them a part of 

 organized knowledge, while the practical man accepts this 

 knowledge and makes use of it in connection with his work. 

 The one investigates and discovers, the other applies. 



In the membership of this Society, both classes are repre- 

 sented and there are all gradations between them. The sci- 

 entist is a practical man in so far as he works directly toward 

 the application of his discoveries to useful ends, and the prac- 

 tical man is scientific to the extent that he works out ideas 

 or lays open new truths in connection with his practice. Fur- 

 thermore, many scientists are particularly interested in the 

 organization of knowledge for practical purposes, and many 

 practical men are keenly on the track of every advance in 

 science, in order that they may put it to use in their work. 

 We recognize these intermediate fields by the terms "prac- 

 tical science" and "scientific practice." 



Now, after a good many years of membership in this 

 Society, and of more or less close association with its mem- 

 bers, the conclusion has been forced upon me that our science 



