It was conceived by him and created for him, and it would almost appear 

 that he was created for it, for certainly no other person of his day and 

 generation was so admirably fitted for the task of organizing this bureau 

 and of executing the duties that grew out of its functions as successively 

 enlarged by Congress. Insisting on scientific investigations and knowl- 

 edge as the essential basis for all current and prospective utilitarian 

 work, he drew around him a corps of eminent biologists and physicists; 

 he established laboratories; he laid plans for the systematic study of 

 our interior and coastal waters; he had vessels built that were especially 

 designed and equipped for exploration of the seas. While he thus 

 inaugurated operations which have been of lasting benefit to the fisheries, 

 at the same time he became the foremost promoter and exponent of 

 marine research ; and the knowledge we today possess of oceanic biology 

 and physics is directly or indirectly due to Baird more than to any other 

 person. The rapid development of piscicultural science under his 

 guidance gave to the United States the foremost place among the nations 

 in maintaining and increasing the aquatic food supply by artificial 

 means; and it was no perfunctory tribute when in 1880, at the Inter- 

 national Fishery Exhibition held in Berlin, Emperor William awarded 

 the grand prize to Baird as "the first fish-culturist in the world." 



The spirit of Baird influences the Bureau of Fisheries today, as it 

 does all the other institutions with which he was associated; and since 

 his death nearly twenty years ago, the good that has been accomplished 

 in the interest of fish culture and the fishing industry, and in the con- 

 duct and encouragement of scientific work, has been in consequence of 

 the foundations he laid, the policy he enunciated and the example he 

 set. 



But conspicuous as were his services to science and mankind ; faith- 

 ful and unselfish as was his devotion to the executive responsibilities 

 imposed on him ; beautiful as was his personal character, I conceive that 

 his most enduring fame may result from the enthusiasm with which he 

 inspired others, and the encouragement and opportunity that he afforded 

 to all earnest workers. The recipients of his aid can be numbered by 

 hundreds, and many of them are today his worthy successors in various 

 fields; and their places in turn will gradually be taken by a vast number 

 of men and women who will perpetuate his memory by efficiently and 

 reverently continuing his work. 



This evidence of the donor's beneficence is a noble and impressive 



22 



