78 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



of Massachusetts, published by order of the Legislature of the State in 1839, and at the 

 same time in the Boston Journal of Natural History. It embraced, as has been 

 before stated, ninety out of the one hundred and twenty then known species of the 

 coast, a large number of which were type specimens, and from which the descriptions 

 of the species were drawn. When engaged in collecting and in seeking information con- 

 cerning them, he visited the market daily and examined all that were to be seen there. 

 He made the acquaintance of those engaged in selling fish and through them with the 

 fishermen themselves, often going to their boats and interesting them in his work, so that 

 many were led to aid him by bringing for his use every species that came into their pos- 

 session. His ever genial manner served to make him very popular among them, and he 

 thus became a welcome visitor whom they were ready to serve with alacrity. On obtain- 

 ing any specimens wanted he conveyed them home, or to the rooms of the Society, where 

 they were studied for description and prepared for preservation. For the greater part of 

 two seasons, that is, during the spring, summer and autumn months, when the temperature 

 of the weather would allow of work in unheated rooms, he, in company with Dr. Augustus 

 A. Gould, might be found busily engaged on specimens of their respective departments, 

 from five o'clock in the early morning until their breakfast time. Mr. Teschemacher, who 

 had the care pf the herbarium at this period, generally joined them previous to their depar- 

 ture, having breakfasted before leaving home. He worked until his business engagements 

 called him away, perhaps an hour later. These glimpses of the doings of some of the ear- 

 lier workers are not unworthy of contemplation by those who occupy their places and 

 who would do justice to their memory. Dr. Storer's labor on fishes and reptiles was 

 often of a very disagreeable character, the specimens received requiring transfer and 

 preparation, being often in a condition far from pleasant to work upon. Alas, that a great 

 part of this labor should have resulted, so far as the Museum is concerned, in scarcely more 

 than the valuable lesson it, with other experience, has taught ; that the voluntary work of 

 Curators cannot be relied upon alone, to preserve collections that are subject to ruin with- 

 out constant supervision and care. In subsequent years nearly all the work of Dr. Stor- 

 er's hands was allowed to perish. The Society will not have done its duty until it has 

 replaced all the species obtained by him of the fishes of Massachusetts waters, every one 

 being labelled as a substitute for the original presented by him. It is pleasant to know 

 that this is recognized as a duty, and as one likely to be accomplished. 



Mention has been made of aid afforded Dr. Storer by fishermen, at the time he was 

 engaged in collecting specimens. To two of these he was very much indebted, not 

 only for many of the species described by him, but for a great deal of information con- 

 cerning them. He would feel it an injustice not to have their names recorded with 

 his, in any description given of the work done by him. These men were Capt. Blanch- 

 ard of Lynn and Capt. N. E. Atwood of Provincetown. The latter, particularly, furnished 

 many species that could not otherwise have been procured, and which were of invaluable 

 service. 



Indirectly Dr. Storer did much for the Society in introducing to it Capt. Atwood. He 

 became a Corresponding Member and ever after manifested great interest in its proceed- 

 ings. When in the city, he has attended the meetings, and often addressed them, giving 

 always a vast deal of information concerning fishes, their habits and the methods adopted 

 for their capture, not possessed by any other man. 



