100 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE. [Vol. I. 



THE ECONOMIC FISHERY EXHIBIT OF THE 

 PUBLIC MUSEUM 



By T. E. B. Pope-^ 



In February, 1920. the installation of an Economic Fishery Ex- 

 hibit was commenced in the Milwaukee Public Museum and, al- 

 though yet to be completed, is at the present date of considerable 

 proportions. This exhibit is, so far as we are aware, original as a 

 museum display and the only one of its kind in the country. 



The present day museum is tending- more and more to special- 

 ize on displays of economic specimens, including both natural his- 

 tory objects and the products of man. This is well illustrated by 

 the Commercial Museums of Philadelphia and similar institutions. 



Fish enter largely into the diet of nearly all races of man and 

 a display of the various types of apparatus used in their capture, 

 together with an assemblage of the manifold fishery products and 

 by-products, was therefore deemed an advisable educational project 

 for the Museum. In all of the federal exhibits at expositions, the 

 fishery building containing both living species of fish and an ex- 

 hibit of fishery apparatus and hatching devices, has proved one of 

 the most popular attractions. This fact, combined with the knowl- 

 edge that the State of Wisconsin is foremost as a game-fishing 

 state, served to emphasize the importance of a permanent collec- 

 tion of this nature in this IMuseum, especially in view of the fact 

 that it is visited by large numbers of fishermen. 



The installation of the present exhibit was therefore commenced 

 early in 1920, with the aim of making it as complete and compre- 

 hensive as possible. The exhibit, when completed, is to include a 

 collection of the principal food and game fishes of the country, cast 

 in wax or other media. Each specimen will be of natural size and 

 color. The specimen will be surrounded and supported by all the 

 apparatus that enters into the capture of the species, including 

 working models of boats, traps, nets. etc. Fishery products and 

 by-products, together with photographs of the processes involved 

 in converting the fishes into food are included. Also a set of typical 

 fish-hatching apparatus is planned. All specimens are, of course, 

 accompanied by popular labels. 



"Curator of Lower Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum. 



