678 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN ADAM RYDER. 



the long clam Mya arenaria. Professor Baird, in commenting on this 

 discovery in his report for that year, believed "it to be of economic 

 importance since the young individuals now can be freely handled and 

 transported." Mr. Bashford Bean remarks: "I have heard it said 

 that Dr. Ryder had, in his scientific work, grown np with the Com- 

 mission; it might, I think, be said even as justly that the Commission 

 had, in a measure, grown up with him." 1 His personality and methods 

 had stamped themselves upon every officer of the Commission to 

 which he had been originally attached as an expert. He "merited the 

 confidence and esteem of everyone, from the Commissioner to the 

 humblest attendant." 



On the occasion of his resignation, 1886, Professor Baird expressed 

 himself in a personal letter in these words : "In view of the many years 

 of your connection with, the Fish Commission and the valuable services 

 which you have rendered by the exercise of your professional skill and 

 ability, I accept your resignation with very great regret." His work, 

 however, on the commission did not at once cease. He was employed 

 in May and June, 1888, to investigate the sturgeon fisheries in the Del- 

 aware River. 2 During the remainder of the summer of the same year 

 he had charge of the station at Woods Hole. 



His interest in the study of cetacea began while on the commission. 

 Although his work on this subject was never extensive, perhaps no 

 other group of observations better illustrate the higher characteristics 

 of his mind. 



In 1886 it was determined by the authorities of the University of 

 Pennsylvania, at the suggestion of Prof. Horace Jayne, to found a 

 chair of Convparative Histology and Embryology. As stated by Pro 

 fessor Jayne, "It was seen that a course was needed which would give 

 students a thorough knowledge of comparative microscopic anatomy, 

 together with the development of the tissues and of the different kinds 

 of animal forms." * The chair was offered to Dr. Ryder and accepted, 

 though " he hesitated at first," to again quote Professor Jayne, "because 

 he mistrusted his power to teach and handle large classes of students, 

 a mistrust which was never shared by his friends." In many respects 

 the change from the duties of a biological expert on the Fish Commis- 

 sion to those of a professorial position was beneficial. He was now 

 enabled to systematize his time and permitted to extend the range of 

 his inquiries. By renewal of associations at the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences he was assisted also in keeping thoroughly in touch with the 

 progress of his favorite science. 



In illustration of the zeal with which he prepared himself for his new 

 duties the following extract is taken from a letter written to Mr. Seal, 

 from Chambersburg : " I am embracing an opportunity for the collection 



1 Memorial Pamphlet. 



2 Report of Fish CommisHion, Bulletin, 1888, page 231. 



