[27] 



FISHERIES OP THE UNITED STATES. 530 



prompted Mr. Agassiz to establish this laboratory, be says : " Ever since the closing 

 of tbe scbool at Penikese, it has been my hope to replace, at least in a somewhat 

 different direction, the work Avhich might have been carried on there. It was im- 

 possible for me to establish a school on so large a scale; but I hope, by giving facili- 

 ties each year to a few advanced students from the museum, and teachers in our 

 public scbools, to prepare, little by little, a small number of teachers, who will have 

 had opportunities for pursuing their studies, hitherto unattainable." 



The Portland Society of Natural History, Portland, Maine. — Local collections of ma- 

 rine zoology made by different parties, including Dr. J. W. Mighels, from 1840 to 1844, 

 and Mr. C. B. Fuller in more recent years. 



Essex Institute and Peabody Academy of Natural Science, Salem, Massachusetts. — The 

 Esses Institute is au establishment of long standing, and, before the organization of 

 the Peabody Academy, paid much attention to the study of local zoology. Dr. Henry 

 Wheatland, one of its oldest officers, was also oue of the earliest dredgers on the 

 New England coast, his operations dating back to about 1838-'40. The Peabody 

 Academy, which later absorbed the natural history section of the Essex Institute, has 

 been one of the most active societies in the country in matters relating to marine 

 zoology, and soon after it was started had the support of an able corps of workers, 

 among whom may be mentioned Professors F. Putnam, A. S. Packard, jr., A. Hyatt, 

 and E. S. Morse, Mr. J. H. Emerton, and Mr. Caleb Cook. Its work has been mainly 

 limited to the New England coast, but its museum contains valuable collections of 

 zoology from many parts of the world. 



Boston Society of Natural History. — This is one of the oldest institutions of its char- 

 acter in the country, and with the liberal support accorded it has always been able 

 to exert a favorable influence on scientific investigations, at home and abroad, both 

 by the fitting out of collecting expeditions and the purchase of collections. We are 

 unable to give anytbing like a complete list of tbe work accomplished under its aus- 

 pices, and will ouly mention the names of a few aquatic zoologists, who, as members 

 of the society, have been engaged in important investigations. Among the earlier 

 members were the conchologists J. P. Couthouy and A. A. Gould, the former having 

 been most actively engaged about 1836 f o 1838 (and from 1838 to 1 842, as a member of the 

 scientific corps of the Wilkes Exploring Expedition ), the latter from about 1838 to 1845. 

 Dr. Gould, however, continued at work on important conchological reports, up to 

 the time of his death, some twenty years later. Dr. W. O. Ayers made many collections 

 of marine invertebrates and fishes from 1851-'53. and Dr. D H. Storer, the author 

 of an important work on the fishes of Massachusetts, continued in active service from 

 183i to 1^67. 



In more recent times. Professor Alpheus Hyatt, custodian of the society, has made 

 many annual collecting trips to different parts of the New EDgland coast, having been 

 associated with the United States Fish Commission during several summers. In 1874, 

 Dr. Edward Palmer made for the society the largest and finest collection of the horny 

 sponges of the Bahamas and Florida ever brought to this country. The Labrador 

 expedition of Dr. A. S. Packard, jr., in 1860, for the purpose of studying tbe marine 

 fauna of Southern Labrador, in the vicinity of Caribou Islands, may also be men- 

 tioned here, as it was conducted partly under the auspices of this society, which re- 

 ceived a large share of tbe collections made. The society's museum is very large, 

 and contains many valuable type collections of aquatic animals. 



The Lyceum of Natural History of New York.— Conchological researches of Amos 

 Binney and W. G. Binney, Tbomas Bland, Sanderson Smitb, William Cooper, Temple 

 Prime, and Charles M. Wheatly, and general marine invertebrates by James E. De- 

 Kay. 



American Museum of Natural History, New Fork. — But few explorations have been 

 undertaken by this museum, which has, however, accumulated by purchase and do- 

 nation several valuable type collections, including the famous Jay collection of 

 shells. 



The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia is another institution to which the 



