Background image: The Anderson School of Natural History on Penikese Island, Arizona Board of Regents, Marine Biological Laboratory Archives, from https://hdl.handle.net/1912/21155

References:

Herber, E.C., 1963. Correspondence between Spencer Fullerton Baird and Louis Agassiz-Two Pioneer American Naturalists. p 212:

“Baird to Agassiz. Jan. 1, 1873. Dear Professor, Your circular is at hand, and I can only say that it will give me much pleasure, if I can make it practicable, to take part in the course of “Field Instruction” that you have so cleverly laid out. The title of my lecture should perhaps be “On the Preservation of our Sea Fisheries,” as that is a subject upon which I could talk indefinitely. The assistance that I can give, as Commissioner of Fisheries will probably consist in the use of some apparatus for collecting and dredging, & in whatever other way the circumstances as they are may suggest…Very truly yours, S. F. Baird”

p. 214:

“Agassiz to Baird. Cambridge, Mass. Apr. 5th 1873. My dear Baird, Penikese Island will afford a favorable location for experimental parks to breed fishes, Crustacea & Mollusks as well as domesticated animals. I am now preparing plans for the marine department and I hope you will make any suggestion that your past experience may prompt. We should neglect nothing which may give practical value to the institution, and your work as fish commissioner must have prepared you for the consideration of all the questions involved. Let me have the benefit of your information on the subject. Very truly yours, L Agassiz”

“Baird to Agassiz April 8, 1873. My dear Professor, …You may readily imagine my gratification at learning through the papers of the magnificent donation of Penikese Island, made by Mr. Anderson. I am, of course, very familiar with the locality & am free to say that no better spot could have been selected in the entire extent of our coast for that very object than Penikese…I will think over the marine farming, & write you hereafter. Among the apparatus for the ready capturing of fish, with little or no trouble you will need one or two fyke-nets, these serving well in fish pounds and portable [illegible] set in one place and another by means of which you can secure great numbers of old and young fish. Very truly yours, Spencer F. Baird”

pp. 215-216:

”Agassiz to Baird. Museum of Comparative Zoology. Cambridge, Mass. April 13, 1873. My dear Baird, …P. S. Where can I get two Fyke-nets? Will you please order them for me. Do you know Mr. Rudolph Hessel well enough to tell me whether he would be the proper person to engage to put up our aquariums and fish farms? LA”

“Baird to Agassiz. Washington. April 17, 1873. My dear Professor, I was very glad to find by your letter that whatever might have been the cause of your temporary indisposition you have recovered your lost ground & only hope the labor consequent upon the Anderson donations, may not tend to break you down again. I presume, however, that will involve considerable outdoor exercises and less trying than severe closed work would be….As to the best methods for securing materials for instruction & investigation, two or three fyke nets set in suitable places in the vicinity of the island, will do a great deal; & a large trawl of about 10 feet-beam which can be worked from a sail boat of 8 or 10 tons, will probably cover the ground required. Mr. Stowe, of the American Net and Twin Company of Boston, understands perfectly the making of both trawl & fyke nets, having manufactured them for me. All you need is to tell him to duplicate the apparatus he made for me. I presume you will make use of the same Steamer for communication with New Bedford that supplies the adjacent island Cuttyhunk. This makes three trips a week, I believe, carrying mails & passengers. You can probably secure its assistance and perhaps obtain its help occasionally for dredging and trawling. You can work the trawl to much better advantage from a small steamer than from a sail boat. Indeed it would be desirable to have a small steamer yacht and launch at your disposal. I do not know what wharf conveniences there are for such a steamer, but I am under the impression that there is quite a serviceable wharf at the island. I am quite familiar with its appearance, having spent many days in its vicinity. I cannot advise you fully in regard to Mr. Hessel’s ability to take charge of the construction of aquaria or fish ponds; but it is my impression that he would be an extremely competent person for such work. Have you yet ordered your alcohol? I have found a distiller in Washington who offers to me copper double distilled spirits, perfectly clear & limpid at 30 cents a proof gallon. He has made a quantity for us which rates at a strength of 140, which would be equivalent to 70 percent of pure alcohol. The cost of this strength would be 42 cents a gallon, free of government tax which would be equivalent to 52 cents per gallon, currency, for 90 per cent alcohol, as furnished by Lauman and Keimper. This is much cheaper than anything we have been able to procure; and it is possible he might be willing to manufacture anything you wish…Very truly yours, S. F. Baird”

pp. 220-221:

“Baird to Agassiz. June 15, 1873. My dear Professor, Knowing how important it will be to your inquiries at Penikese, I send you herewith the shells of Verrill’s portion of my report on the Fishes of Vineyard Sound, so far as printed. I hope to be able to supply the remainder in a few weeks. I will, of course, send you several copies of the completed book; but I give you these in advance thinking they may come into use at once in your operations. I hope to leave Washington so as to reach Boston about next Monday to remain there one or two days before going to Portland & if you are in Cambridge, & I can possibly find time, I will run out to see you. Very truly yours, Spencer F. Baird.”

“Agassiz to Baird. Cambridge, Mass. June 18. 1873. My dear Professor, I am very much obliged for the advanced sheets of Verrill’s Report; and will be truly grateful for a number of copies of the whole to distribute among my Class at Penikese. There will be about 50 teachers from the West and from our Normal Schools here and no set of men are likely to be more greedy for information than these people will be, judging by their letters. Very truly yours L Agassiz.”