Anicricaii Fisheries Sociciy. 171 



Mixy I mention one other very marked trait in Profes^oi 

 Baird? His aversion to personal eontroversy, so decided that 

 under no circumstances could he he drawn into one, and this 

 when as a pioneer in scientific research his views always frankly 

 expressed called out frequent criticism. One who knew him well 

 writes : "One of his striking characteristics was that he would 

 never quarrel, and never have anything to do with the quarrels 

 of others. He was always for peace." 



Bnt the earthly end of this nohle life tlrew on. Xature could 

 not longer endure the strain which for nigh half a century unre- 

 mitting, unselfish devotion to the promotion of science had made 

 upon mind and hody. For many months before the end, Profes- 

 sor Baird knew that the closing shadows were gathering. The 

 public realized it when with startled sorrow early in 1887, at his 

 request the Eegents of the Smithsonian authorized the apjjoint- 

 ment of Professors Langiey and Goode as assistants. The aid 

 came too late. In the early summer he returned to Woods Hole^ 

 vainly hoping its pure air and cool breezes might still permit 

 some participation in his loved Fish Commission work, and this 

 satisfaction was to some extent granted him. His life was now 

 restricted, and with many results of his life work al)out liim, he 

 calmly waited the highest summons. In this period of weakness 

 it was his pleasure, placed in a wheel-chair, to be moved around 

 the pier, past the vessels he had built for research, and through 

 the laboratory where many were at work in biologic investiga- 

 tions. For everyone he had words of good cheer, well knowing 

 they were words of farewell. His thoughts were witli his work 

 up to the very last. On that last morning one of his most faith- 

 ful assistants, one who is now honored by us all for the valuabl- 

 Avork he is doing for the Fish Commission, called ujjon liini. as 

 was his daily habit, in the early morning, when Professor Baird 

 said to him: "I wish you would set a trap off Butler's Point 

 (indicating the exact location), I think you may securi' some 

 thing there." He left immediately in his boat, and went al)out 

 the work. While setting the poles for attaching the net. h'^ 

 glanced over to the Fish Commission Building and saw that the 

 flag had been placed at half-mast. He rapidly rowed hack and 

 found his chief lying in the present office — goin- ! Tlie end came 

 when after a brief period of unconsciousness lie brcatlicd his last 



