CHAPTER NINE 



RETURNING in September from a trip to Europe, I 

 took up my new work in the University with much 

 enthusiasm. Naturally I found there more and 

 better equipment and a more generous atmosphere 

 than at Butler, although the larger institution was 

 quite as heavily burdened by educational tradition. 

 In addition to several excellent students who had 

 followed me from Irvington, a number of others 

 showed marked promise. I had hardly made a 

 beginning, however, when a most unforeseen call to 

 government service gave me a rare opportunity for 

 field work in Zoology. 



The United States Census Bureau, under the ef- Govern- 

 ficient administration of General Francis A. Walker, ment . 

 had planned for 1880 a report which in fullness and 

 accuracy should far surpass any work of the kind Coast 

 before attempted. Through cooperation with Baird 

 and Goode, the investigation of marine industries 

 was turned over to the Fish Commission, and I 

 was asked to take charge of the work on the Pacific 

 Coast, while Dr. Bean went to Alaska on a simi- 

 lar mission, and Silas Stearns, a delightful young 

 student of nature, canvassed the Gulf of Mexico. 

 Making an adjustment whereby my collegiate work 

 was placed temporarily in Dudley's hands, I was 

 enabled to accept the alluring assignment, upon 

 which I entered in December, 1879. Gilbert, then 

 one of my graduate students, accompanied me as 



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