PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS 139 



Mr. Boardman, who, from his familiarity with the depart- 

 ments and acquaintance with their chiefs, had the advan- 

 tage of the inside knowledge of thinsg which he shared 

 with his friends. 



Prof. Leslie A. Lee of Bowdoin College, Brunswick, 

 who was chief of the Albatross scientific corps in its 

 dredging work under the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion in 1885 and 1886, teUs how, in the evenings after 

 work was over as they were seated upon the veranda at 

 the headquarters building at Woods Holl, Prof. Baird 

 for hour after hour, would talk about Mr. Boardman, of 

 his rare attainments, his accurate knowledge, his keen 

 observation and tell story after story of their experiences 

 together in the Maine w^oods or in their studies at the 

 Smithsonian at Washington. 



Mr. Boardman was ver}- fond of reading. In fact, as 

 his daughter Mrs. Taylor says, he "read ever>'thing " 

 excepting novels and was very fond of the poetry of 

 Browning. He took regularly seventeen magazines, 

 journals and newspapers and read them all. In a letter 

 to Prof. Baird written at MiUtown, N. B., November 30, 

 1879, he says: "I am hard up for reading matter. 

 Have not seen a Smithsonian report for a long time ; 

 should be glad of most anything." Again, writing to 

 him from Minneapolis, March 6, 1883, he says : " Can- 

 not you send me something to read. Have not seen a 

 Smithsonian report for a couple of years, nor any of your 

 bulletins. There are very few naturalist folks here, all 

 are on a rush for business. I have found Chicago the 

 same, no collectors of anything." He had a splendid 

 memory, remembering everything he read and the names 

 of all persons whom he ever met. He was very regular 



