418 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
already in the service of the United States and an expert 
in the work. As it happened, there was but one other 
person at that time to whom this would apply besides 
my father, and this other person, although very much 
interested in my father’s undertaking, would not have 
been willing to be considered a rival candidate for the 
place. The American Fish Culture Association, however, 
earnestly approving the original plan, were also desirous 
that the new bureau should undertake the work of fish- 
culture, which was consequently later added to the 
scheme, and ultimately proved to be a very important 
part of the work, requiring a large proportion of the care 
and attention of the Commissioner.” 
The summer of 1869 was spent in part at Eastport, 
Maine, where Professor Baird was brought in contact 
with men engaged in the fisheries and in manufacturing 
fish products. Everywhere the complaint was heard that 
the supply of fish was becoming less and less; especially 
in the dory fisheries which operated near the shores. The 
problems connected with this decrease became a subject 
of deep interest to Baird. 
After his return to Washington much of his time was 
taken up in revising North American birds,? for a great 
work in which he had the codperation of his friend Dr. 
T. M. Brewer, of Boston, and his already expert pupil 
Robert Ridgway, as well as Dr. Theodore Gill and Dr. 
Elliott Coues, in minor matters. 
Owing in part to his relations with the Hon. Geo. P. 
Marsh, of Vermont, Professor Baird had had for years 
more or less intimacy with the members of the Senate 
2 This was published in 1874, by Little, Brown & Co., of Boston, 
in three volumes, 4to, entitled “A History of North American Birds,” 
with 64 colored plates and 593 woodcuts. 
