Fig 1: Vinal Nye Edwards painting, naturalist/collector, US Fisheries, Woods Hole station, 1875-1919. Credit: NOAA Fisheries. Vinal Nye Edwards, local self-trained naturalist and researcher who conducted field studies in natural history, oceanographic surveys, and laboratory investigations nearly every day for well over three decades at the Fisheries station in Woods Hole.

Fig 2: Woods Hole Lab 2nd floor with AH Baldwin, Sanderson Smith, Vinal N. Edwards and others at work, circa 1890. Credit: Smithsonian Institution Archives. Edwards and other workers in the Fisheries laboratory. Contrary to Conklin’s (1944) statement that operations in Woods Hole were postponed in 1876 due to the Centennial Exposition, Edwards remained a permanent employee and ran the station and laboratory there during that season and others, hosting many notable zoologists and embryologists each season along with the regular staff.

Background image: From Galtsoff, 1962, p. 14, Fig. 7: Vinal Nye Edwards portrait, naturalist/collector, US Fisheries, Woods Hole station, 1875-1919. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.

All images from NOAA archives gallery at https://apps-nefsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/rcb/photogallery/assorted.html

References:

Galtsoff, P.S., 1962. The story of the bureau of commercial fisheries, Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts (Vol. 145). US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries.

p. 13:

“The first year’s work extended until the early part of October. Before returning to Washington, Baird commissioned Vinal N. Edwards (fig. 7) of Woods Hole to continue the investigation as far as possible. By the end of the first year a general plan of study of the natural histories was prepared with the assistance of the well-known ichthyologist, Theodore N. Gill.”

p. 15: Background image

p. 20:

“The year 1875 should be considered the year of the establishment of the laboratory”

Lillie, F.R. and Conklin, E.G., 1944. Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory.

p. 25:

“In 1876 the marine laboratory work of the Fish Commission was interrupted, owing to the Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia. From 1877 to 1880 the work was carried on at Salem, Halifax, Gloucester, Provincetown, and Newport.” – referring to the comment in Fig 2.

[Despite these activities of Baird and other Commission personnel at these other locations, the Commission continued operation since 1871 in Woods Hole due to the continued employment of Vinal N. Edwards of Woods Hole. Though the station’s activities were headquartered in different buildings, Edwards maintained constant operation and daily scientific activities. When the second laboratory on Little Harbor became occupied in 1876, Edwards ran the station during these subsequent years that Baird was not present, running the laboratory and even hosting visiting scientists each year, as are posted in the references from the Commission’s own Reports during this time.]

Report, 1873. U. S. Commission of Fish and Fish and Fisheries, Report of the Commissioner for 1871 and 1872, 1,

p. XII:

“(For 1871) The Light-House Board granted the occupation of some vacant buildings and of the wharf connected with their buoy-station at Wood’s Hole”;

p. XIV-XVI:

“…seines and nets of different kinds were set or drawn almost every day, for the purpose of ascertaining facts connected with the spawning of the fish, the rate of growth of the young, the localities preferred by them, &c. Professor Verrill and his parties wese[sic] engaged also throughout the summer in making collections along the shores at low tide, as also in the constant use of the dredge and the towing-net…care was therefore taken to mark out the position and extent of different beds of mussels, worms, star-fishes, &c., at the sea-bottom, and by straining the water at various depths and at the surface, to ascertain the amount of animal life therein. Temperature observations were also repeatedly taken and recorded, especially from the revenue-cutter Moccasin, under command of Captain Baker…my (Baird’s) own stay on the coast of Wood’s Hole extended until the early part of October; and, on my departure, I commissioned Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, of that place, to continue the investigation as far as possible, by collecting facts in regard to the more important species, and especially as to the time of their leaving the shores. This he performed with great fidelity, besides securing valuable specimens of rare fishes and transmitting them to Washington.”

p. XXXVI:

“…results of inquiries respecting the fisheries on the south coast of New England during the season of 1872, having revisited many of the localities of the investigations of 1871, and sending an assistant to others.”

Report, 1876. U. S. Commission of Fish and Fish and Fisheries, Report of the Commissioner for 1873 and 1874, 3,

p. 386:

“(In 1873) Arrangements had been previously made, at the suggestion of Hon. Spencer F. Baird, United States Commissioner of Fisheries…with Capt. Vinal Edwards, of Wood’s Hole, Mass., for young lobsters and other salt-water fish.”

Report, 1878. U. S. Commission of Fish and Fish and Fisheries, Report of the Commissioner for 1875 and 1876, 4,

p. 6:

“(Little Harbor laboratory) is the first formal and permanent sea-coast laboratory constructed and put into operation, especially in the purpose, in the United States.”;

p. 7:

“The necessity of attendance upon the International Exhibition at Philadelphia, in the capacity of superintendent of the exhibits of the Smithsonian Institution, of the National Museum, and of the United States Fish Commission, prevented any active work being done under the immediate direction of the Commissioner during the season of 1876…The laboratory, however, at Woods’ Holl, was opened for the service of a number of scientific investigators, to whom every facility and assistance was furnished by Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, in charge of the station…Mr. Edwards, also, who is stationed at Woods’ Holl throughout the year, continued, as heretofore, to take careful note of all the varying phenomena of the water and of its inhabitants, making collections of specimens, both of surface and deep-sea species, thus gathering many new facts for consideration. His observations during the period of the year not covered by the active work of the Commission, have given to this station a very great prominence; and there are few points, even on the coast of Europe, the natural history of which is now better known. Of over 130 species of fishes which have been obtained by the Commission from Woods’ Holl, a large per cent. have been gathered by Mr. Edwards.”

Report, 1880. U. S. Commission of Fish and Fish and Fisheries, Report of the Commissioner for 1878, 6,

p. XXXIX:

“Partial experiments, indicating the same general result, were made in 1877 at Noman’s Land, by Mr. Vinal Edwards, of the United States Fish Commission, and mentioned in detail in the report for 1877. “

Report, 1883. U. S. Commission of Fish and Fish and Fisheries, Report of the Commissioner for 1880, 8,

p. 56:

“A permanent collector, Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, has been employed at Wood’s Holl and vicinity since 1871, and many remarkable forms have also been discovered by him.”

Report, 1884. U. S. Commission of Fish and Fish and Fisheries, Report of the Commissioner for 1881, 9,

p. XL:

“(in 1881) Capt. H. C. Chester had general charge of the buildings, assisted by Vinal N. Edwards, of Wood’s Holl.”