PROBLEMS IN WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



In 1841 he went to New York City to study medicine 

 but soon found it not to his liking so he returned to Carlisle 

 as Professor of Natural History in Dickinson College. 

 While in New York, however, he had made contacts with 

 a number of famous naturalists, among others, Audubon, 

 Peale, DeKay, Giraud, Bell, and James D. Dana. It was at 

 Dana's suggestion that in 1847 ne applied to Joseph Henry, 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the position 

 of curator. Due to the Institution's lack of funds it was 

 not until July 1850 that he received the appointment as 

 assistant secretary and began his long and distinguished 

 career at the Smithsonian. 



The time was most opportune for an expansion of the 

 Smithsonian, as the government was just beginning its 

 famous series of Pacific railroad surveys. Not only were 

 these several expeditions equipped by Baird with collecting 

 outfits but also one or more of the men, usually picked by 

 himself, was instructed in the work. Through his tact, 

 courtesy, and warm-hearted interest he was able to enlist a 

 great host of persons in all branches of the government ser- 

 vice in the work of gathering specimens for the Smith- 

 sonian. 



Nor did his work stop there. He always stood ready to 

 encourage the faltering steps of young naturalists. A num- 

 ber of men whom he trained and advised later carried on 

 his work in the government service. The best known per- 

 haps being Dr. C. Hart Merriam and Henry W. Henshaw, 

 who successively became chief of the Biological Survey, 

 and G. Brown Goode, who followed Baird as Director of 

 the Smithsonian and as Commissioner of Fish and Fish- 

 eries. 



This was the Baird who was chiefly responsible for the 

 setting up of the United States Fish Commission and who 

 acted as sponsor for its activities until his death in 1887. 



