292 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XII 



is not yet finally settled. Whence the newspapers get 

 their information I don't know but it is always wrong 

 in these matters. 



As you know, I have had a good apprenticeship to the 

 work 1 and I hope to be of some use ; of the few 

 innocent pleasures left to men past middle life the 

 jamming common-sense down the throats of fools is 

 perhaps the keenest 



May we do some joint business in that way ! Ever 

 yours very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



To HIS ELDEST SON 



Feb. 14, 1881. 



I have entered upon my new duties as Fishery 

 Inspector, but you are not to expect salmon to be much 

 cheaper just yet 



My colleague and I have rooms at the Home Office, 

 and I find there is more occupation than I expected, but 

 no serious labour. 



Every now and then I shall have to spend a few days 

 in the country, holding inquiries, and as salmon rivers 

 are all in picturesque parts of the country, I shall not 

 object to that part of the business. 



The duties of the new office were partly scientific, 

 partly administrative. On the one hand, the natural 

 history and diseases of fish had to be investigated ; 

 on the other, regulations had to be carried out, weirs 

 and salmon passes approved, disputes settled, reports 

 written. I find, for instance, that apart from the 

 work in London, visits of inspection in all parts of 



1 He had already served on two Fishery Commissions, 1862 

 and 1864-5. 



