1881 WORK AS FISHERY INSPECTOR 23 



But as I am still, in an official sense, nowhere, I will not 

 delay any longer. 



I had never thought of the post, but the Home Secretary 

 offered it to me in a very kind and considerate manner, and after 

 some hesitation I accepted it. But some adjustment had to be 

 made between my master, the Lord President, and the Treasury ; 

 and although everybody seems disposed to be very good to me, 

 the business 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 * 

 — 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, regula- 

 tions had to be carried out, weirs and salmon passes ap- 

 proved, disputes settled, reports written. I find for instance, 

 that apart from the work in London, visits of inspection 

 in all parts of the country took up twenty-eight days between 

 March and September this year. 



Sir Spencer Walpole, who was his colleague for some 

 years, has kindly given me an account of their work to- 

 gether. 



* He had already served on two Fishery Commissions, 1862 and 

 1864-5. 



