Hyatt.] 562 [April 18, 



name of the Smithsonian penetrated into every corner of our vast 

 territory, and won respect for its agents and objects, and finally 

 became intimately associated with our national reputation both at 

 home and in foreign lands. 



The United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, which has 

 attained such a high reputation for its efficiency as an economical 

 and scientific undertaking, stands in the same category with the 

 National Museum, and owed its origin, character and success to 

 Professor Baird. As an illustration of the motives which influ- 

 enced him, the author of this sketch has treasured the memory of 

 an interview at Wood's Holl, in which he expressed himself with- 

 out reserve as devoted to the scientific side of the Commission, to 

 the encouragement of researches upon the marine flora and fauna, 

 and to the laboratory work of the Woods Holl station. It must 

 be remembered, that he never derived any benefit from this posi- 

 tion, getting neither increase of salary nor opportunities to follow 

 out researches of his own. Additional labor in the bureau was 

 his share and this at a time, when he was, as is well known to many 

 persons, carrying on by the aid of his helpful daughter the scien- 

 tific editorship of the Harpers' Brothers' periodicals, and of their 

 " Annual Record of Science and Industry" in order to add to his 

 income. 



In connection with the Commission, and by means of its vessels 

 and laboratories, many of our ablest naturalists have carried on in- 

 vestigations upon the marine flora and fauna along the whole coast 

 of New England, collecting and describing the animals and plants 

 until they have become fairly well known. With regard to the 

 economic triumphs and results, we cannot do better than to quote 

 the closing words of Dall's interesting address at the Baird Memo- 

 rial meeting held in Washington, Jan. 11, 1888. 



"Whether germane to the subject of scientific research or not, 

 the most narrow specialist can hardly grudge an allusion to the 

 grandeur of the methods by which the food supply of a nation was 

 provided, hundreds of rivers stocked with fish and the very depths 

 of ocean were repopulated. Typically American, we may call them, 

 in their audacity and their success. The fishery boards of foreign 

 countries, first quietly indifferent, then loudly incredulous, in due 

 time became interested inquirers and enthusiastic followers. In a 

 few years we may fairly expect to see the food supply of the entire 

 civilized world materially increased, with all the benefits which 



