272 NATHANIEL SOUTHGATE SEALER 



the advancement of our knowledge in general, and the proper solution of 

 which may not be without practical importance. I name, first, the study 

 of the fishes of all your rivers separately. Now that pisciculture has become 

 an art of great practical importance an investigation into the distribution 

 of your fishes would furnish an essential basis for the introduction of such 

 species as may be of greater economical value than those which naturally 

 inhabit your waters. . . . 



Although Mr. Shaler could spend but little time at Penikese, 

 his interest in the theory and practice of summer schools never 

 abated. The idea of establishing a Summer School of Geology 

 was persistently advanced until, after much discouragement, 

 he succeeded in putting on a permanent basis this form of 

 teaching at Harvard University a system now in operation 

 throughout the country. Some of his friends were disturbed 

 lest he fail of the credit due him for the idea, a matter about 

 which, however, he was indifferent. The following extract is 

 from a letter written by a friend in Cambridge in the spring of 

 1873, before he came back from England. 



. . . And now about this summer school of natural history and the island 

 which old "fine cut" John Anderson has given to Agassiz. Your friends 

 think you ought to be on the ground when the thing is started even if you 

 go back to Europe as soon as the first term is over. ... It looks very much 

 as if the "big wigs" and their satellites will rush in and bear away all the 

 credit of the idea and as none of them know anything about "outdoor" 

 teaching it will end in failure. It is true that at the tail end of one of his 



letters did admit that his young friend Shaler had originated the idea. 



Now ... if you wish to start the thing in accordance with your ideas, it 

 would seem to me that you ought to be here at the opening so as to take 

 your proper place in the management. ... It makes me indignant when I 

 see other people stealing your thunder. One thing though you must let me 

 insist on, and that is, you must run no risks in the way of health, and in this 

 matter I would much rather trust to Mrs. Shaler's opinion than your own. 

 If the worst should come, you can fight the thing a year or so hence. 



Notwithstanding his friend's uneasiness, Mr. Shaler's instruc- 

 tion in geology, including the Summer School, in the course of 

 time became so far developed and perfected as to meet with 

 wide recognition. 



