528 ZOOLOGY 



head of the Smithsonian. The result was the aban- 

 donment of Baird's personal researches, and his total 

 absorption in the work of managing and helping others. 

 Much of his energy went into efforts to secure funds for 

 a new building, efforts which were finally successful, 

 thanks in part to the numerous workers who enthusi- 

 astically came to his aid. Today, still another and 

 larger National Museum building has been erected, and 

 it is already crowded. 



The Fish io. Toward the end of Baird's life another great 



Commission op p Ortun i t y came to him, and he hastened to meet it, 

 overburdened with duties as he already was. President 

 Grant was authorized to appoint a competent man to 

 inquire into the state of the fisheries, and devise means 

 for the increase or protection of the fish supply. Baird 

 was appointed, and instead of making a superficial 

 inquiry and issuing a report, he took up the whole 

 problem in a scientific spirit, and undertook to establish 

 the foundations of a new and fruitful policy which 

 should govern the fisheries, both marine and fresh- 

 water. He established a permanent organization, 

 which is still in existence, and built a biological labora- 

 tory by the sea, at Wood's Hole, on the coast of Massa- 

 chusetts. The results exceeded all expectations, and 

 European workers in the same field, at first incredulous, 

 were presently enthusiastic followers of Bairdian 

 methods. Although since Baird's time the Commission 

 or Bureau of Fisheries has unfortunately suffered from 

 political influences, the scientific basis of all the work 

 has never been lost sight of, and the publication of 

 important theoretical and practical results has con- 

 tinued without a break. 



II. At length the incessant work told upon Baird's 

 originally robust health, and he was advised to rest. 



