The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-02
MARSHALL MCDONALD DEAD.
POSITION OF 4. :. COMMISSIONER OF
FISH AND FISHERIES VACANT.

Services, of the Deceased COmmIsS
sioner OF Great Value 90 the Cow
ernment and to the Cause of Fish
CuIture-Mr. Mcdonald the Invent-
or of a Number of Ingenious Ap-
plinnces-EIistOry of His Promotions
From "A Subordinate Position TO an
Important once, which was
brought AbOut IN n Rather Curious
Manner.
Washington. Sept Marshall McDon.
aid OF West Virginia. who for the lass
seven years has held the position oe
United States commissioner OF fsh and
fisheries, died this morning at his resi-
dence in this city Of pulmonary diseases.
after an illness Of several months. Hs
went to the Adirondacks, accompanied
by his wife. in the early part Of tha
summer. and seemed for a time to bene-
it by the health-giving air Of that re-
gion. but a change for the worse set in,
and last week he was brought back homa
to die
Mr.. Mcdonald was the inventor OF d
number OF ingenious appliances. include
ing a stairway to enable salmon and othen
migrating fish to ascend the rapids %
rivers, and his services were Of a greas
benefit to the cause Of FISH culture His
promotion from subordinate positou
to the responsible office which he held
at the time Of his death was brought
about in a rather curious way. The offices
H..
tion Of congress. passed in 1871. was an
honorary one, the President being au-
thorized to detail some person
in the employ of the governs
ment "of proved scientific and practical ac-
quaintance with the fish and fisheries Of
the sea coast and island waters" to serva
as president of the fish commission with
out extra compensation" This resolution
was specially framed to meet the case of
Prof. Spencer Baird Of the Smithsonian
Institute. who. being in the receipt Of
handsome salary from that institution.
could afford to superintend the work OF
the FISH commission, to which he himself
had given so great an impetus with his
researches without extra pay In this
the establishment OF one OF the most im-
portant bureaus of the government, which
now disburses between $4,000 and $780,
900 a year.
When Prof Baird died during CIeve.
lands first term. that jovial gentlemans
Judge Alex McCue OF Brooklyn, since de-
ceased, then holding the Office OF solicitor
OF the treasury, which Is practically a
fifth wheel TO the treasury coach made ap-
plcation for the appointment. As he
quantity and frankly put the matter,
there seems 10 be lots Of nice fishing and
yachting going begging, and 1 would like
70 take them in"
The President. without having his atten-
tion called TO the requirements Of the
law that the commissioner must be a
man Of proved scientific attainmentsr
properly designated Judge McCue for the
place, but as soon as he learned his mis-
take revoked the appointment and COM
mitted the Office to the charge OF Prof.
Brown Goode, Of the national museums
who has been Prof. Baird's chief assis-
tant.
Congress was subsequently induced to
remove the restriction requiring the fish
commissioner TO serve without pay and
appropriated a salary OF 5000 for the
ofhce. As soon as this was done Prof.
Goode resigned, preferrlng to remain in
Charge Of the museum even at a less
salary than 10 encounter the tide Of pub
ic criticism which for years had followed
the dispensing Of the very considerable
patronage OF the fish commission
Then Mr. Mcdonald who was chief as
sstant commissioner was appointed to
the place. His successor. whoever he may
be, will have two steam yachts and one
sailing vessel at his disposal, and will have
supervision over twenty-five fishing sta
tions scattered over different parts OF the
country The requirement that he muss
be a man Of proved scientific and prac-
tical acquaintance with fish," still holds
good.
There are at present three assistant fish
commissioners, each drawing a salary OF
$500 a year, Mr.. Richard Rathbun OF
New York, Mr.. Tarleton H. Beane OF
New Jersey, and Mr.. Hugh A. Smith OF
Washington, d. c. The probabilities seem
to be that one Of these gentlemen viii be
promoted to the commissionership vacat>
ed by Mr.. McDonald's lamented death.