American Fisheries Society 87 



education in fish culture in the hard school of practical 

 experience. 



And yet, with all of its seeming drawbacks and hard- 

 ships, the work for him had a peculiar fascination, for the 

 greater the difficulties encountered the more he persevered 

 and the heavier he drew un that tremendous reserve furce of 

 energy which was his in the fullness of his early manhood. 



It was undoubtedly the reputation earned by the Clarks, 

 father and son, as pioneer fish culturists, that led to the 

 son being called into the service of the federal fish com- 

 mission in 1874. Here his successful work, his zeal and 

 energy, and his enthusiasm and optimism and abiding faith 

 in the future of fish culture, soon attracted the attention of 

 Prof. Spencer F. Baird, the first United States Com- 

 missioner of Fisheries. As time went on that truly great 

 and good man and Mr. Clark were drawn into much closer 

 relations. Thus his true worth as a practical fish culturist 

 was recognized by one of the greatest scientists of the time; 

 and when, in 1880, funds were available for propagation 

 service on the great lakes on a scale of some magnitude, he 

 was appointed its first superintendent. He was not only 

 the logical man for the place, but unquestionably the best 

 equipped, both in experience and mental and physical en- 

 dowment. With boundless energy and ambition he at once 

 inaugurated and prosecuted a campaign that was fought 

 with vigor and signal skill and ability until the very day of 

 his untimely taking off. xA.s he grew and developed and ex- 

 panded, so did the work which he loved so well, a work 

 that is conceded to be one of the conspicious fish-cultural 

 successes of his time. As he broadened and deepened and 

 ripened, he became, in my judgment, easily the ablest and 

 most successful superintendent in the employ of the Bureau 

 of Fisheries and unquestionably the most forceful. 



As a prophet is not without honor save in his own coun- 

 try, so it is. T believe, that Frank N. Clark's standing in the 

 sphere of his special activities was not known or fully ap- 



