Evening star., 1923-02-04
Scientists Propose Fisheries
Memorial to Prof. S. #. Baird
Committee on Centenary of Birth of
Museum Founder AdUOcdtes Insti-
tuition for Science Work.

the first effort to honor the memory
of Prof. Baird by the erection of
| memorial. There Is already bust. of
the distinguished scientist in the hall
of fame Of the American Museum of
Natural History. New York. There is
a large memorial boulder. with a
suitable tablet affixed. on the bureau
OF fisheries property at Woods Hole.
tablet in the bureaus headquarters
building in this city. 1t is likely that
all three Of these memorials. the
grave in Oak Hill cemetery and the
house in Reading. Pa. in which Prof.
Baird was born. will be decorated to-
day. 1T Is also proba BILE that officials
and citizens Of Reading will not only
decorate the house but will place
thereon a permanent tablet.
The. two men who have eXerted
the strongest influence on natural
history studies In this coun."'y are
Louis Aggas'z and Prof. Baird. de-
clarcd ]. s. Billings in 1889. two years
after Bairds death. and those alive
'oday who had the privilege OF know
ng and working with him readily
testify to the same opinion.
Prof. Baird was undoubtedly one
of sthe great characters in our ma
Hugh NJ. Smith. who served under
him In the bureau of fisheries and
later became head Of the same bu
reau. His personal contributions to
were numerous and profound. His
ability and achievements, his fidelity
to the public veal. his unselfish de-
votion to duty, the encouragement
and aid he extended to other workers
and the beauty and simplicity Of his
character combined 20 produce one of
the most noteworthy figures in our
! national history"
| Work at Smithsonian,
/ Prof. Baird was the second secre-
! tary OF the Smithsonian Institution.
! following Prof. Henry: he was the
scum: was one OF the prime movers
! in the establishment both Of the
/ United States geological survey and
/ the bureau of American ethnology.
and was creator and first head of the
bureau OF fisheries.
Born in Reading. Pa. in 1928. he
entered Dickinson College at the age
/ of thirteen. He received his degree
| in 1870. studied medicine for while.
J studies and. in lS45. was made hon
f, orary professor of natural history.
| In lS4S he married a Miss Churchill
! Of Carlisle. Pa, and in 1850. upon the
recommendation Of Audubon. Marsh.
Dana and Aggasiz. was elected as
sistant secretary of the Smithsonian
/ and moved TO Washington. On the
death of Prof. Henry in 1873 he was
| UNANIMOUSLY CHOSEN secretary.
Meanwhile, in 1871. the position of
| commissioner of fish and fisheries had
: been created and Baird was appoint
ed thereto by the President. On his
presentation of the need for a suit
| able depository for governmental
collections. Congress in 1879 appro-
priated money for a fireproof build
ing for the purpose and Baird became
| the eN-off1cio director of the Ma ationa |
Museum. He hald the three posi-
ttons-secretary. commissioner and
! director-until his death in 1881
! 1t is perhaps as an ichthyologist
that Baird is best known. The early
! interest he manifested in that sub
ject increased with age and was re-
sponsible for the genesis and organ
tzation of the federal fishery service
/ associated. AS early as 1868 he visi-
ted Woods Hole. Mass. and was inn
pressed with the richness Of the local
| marine fauna there. where now the
bureau of fisheries maintains one of
it's most important stations, and
| where the first permanent marine lab
oratory in America was established.
! ISLANDERS Recalled.
/ Woods Hole was the scene of Baird's
principal activities. There, in col
| laboration with other eminent scien-
| lists. he planned and inaugurate ted
those noteworthy biological. fishery
soon brought the United States into
| the forefront OF the nations in all
| such matters. and there he died "in
| harness"
In 1885 his numerous cares of office
| were aggravated by unScrupulous
newspaper attacks on the activities
and personnel OF various scientific bu-