The Benefactors 239 



of Commissioner Baird, he served for a time as Assistant Com- 

 missioner of Fisheries, under Commissioner Goode. While 

 connected with the Fish Commission he carried on a suc- 

 cessful series of experiments to solve the problems relative 

 to the temperature of living fishes, which have been made 

 public through the reports of the Fish Commission. Besides 

 the reports just referred to, Doctor Kidder contributed valu- 

 able papers to various professional and educational publica- 

 tions, and held for years a place on the literary staff of the 

 New York World, and maintained membership in many 

 learned societies. He was one of the founders of the Cosmos 

 Club, one of the organizers of the Harvard Club in Washing- 

 ton, and a prominent member in the Masonic fraternity. 



In 1888 Doctor Kidder accepted the appointment of 

 curator of laboratory and exchanges ; and the writer cannot 

 speak in too warm terms of the character of Doctor Kidder 

 as shown in their business relations. His liberal educa- 

 tion and views, served by the " capacity for taking pains " 

 already referred to, were all under the control of the most 

 conscientious regard for duty, and made him a valued admin- 

 istrator of the department under his charge. He knew how 

 to maintain, together with exact order, the kindliest relations 

 with all employed in it, who, it is safe to say, remember him 

 with an affection and regard due to his excellent personal 

 qualities, a feeling which the writer profoundly shares. Just 

 in his best work, in his fullest physical vigor, Doctor Kidder 

 was stricken with pneumonia, and died after a brief illness in 

 Washington on April 8, 1889. 



He was a man most worthy of trust in every relation of life, 

 and deeply mourned by those who enjoyed his friendship. 



In 1891 Alexander Graham Bell presented to me $5000 to 

 aid in scientific researches I was carrying on, which sum was, 



