Stanford University’s John Otterbein Snyder: Student, Collaborator, and Colleague of David Starr Jordan and Charles Henry Gilbert

John Otterbein Snyder (1867–1943) was an early student of David Starr Jordan at Stanford University and subsequently rose to become an assistant professor there. During his 34 years with the university he taught a wide variety of courses in various branches of zoology and advised numerous students. He eventually mentored 8 M.A. and 4 Ph.D. students to completion at Stanford. He also assisted in the collection of tens of thousands of fish specimens from the western Pacific, central Pacific, and the West Coast of North America, part of the time while stationed as “Naturalist” aboard the U.S. Fish Commission’s Steamer Albatross (1902–06). Although his early publications dealt mainly with fish groups and descriptions (often as a junior author with Jordan), after 1910 he became more autonomous and eventually rose to become one of the Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus spp., experts on the West Coast. Throughout his career, he was especially esteemed by colleagues as “a stimulating teacher,” “an excellent biologist,” and “a fine man.

Charles H. Gilbert, Pioneer Ichthyologist and Fishery Biologist

Charles Henry Gilbert (Fig. 1) was a pioneer ichthyologist and, later, fishery biologist of particular significance to natural history of the western United States. Born in Rockford, Illinois on 5 December 1859, he spent his early years in Indianapolis, Indiana, where, in 1874, he came under the influence of his high school teacher, David Starr Jordan (1851-1931). Gilbert graduated from high school in 1875, and when Jordan became a professor of natural history at Butler University in Irvington, Indiana, Gilbert followed, and received his B.A. degree in 1879. Jordan moved to Indiana University, in Bloomington, in the fall of 1879, and Gilbert again followed, earning his M.S. degree in 1882 and his Ph.D. in 1883 in zoology. His doctorate was the first ever awarded by Indiana University.

Charles Henry Gilbert (1859-1928), Naturalist-in-Charge, and Chauncey Thomas, Jr. (1850-1919), Commanding: Conflict Aboard the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross in 1902

Charles Henry Gilbert (1859-1928) was a pioneering ichthyologist who made major contributions to the study of fishes of the American West. As chairman of the Department ofZoology at Leland Stanford Junior University in Palo Alto, Calif., during 1891-1925, Gilbert was extremely devoted to his work and showed little patience with those ofa different mindset. While serving as Naturalist-in-Charge of the U.S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross during her exploratory expedition to the Hawaiian Islands in 1902, Gilbert engaged in an acrimonious feud with the ship's captain, Chauncey Thomas, Jr. (1850-1919), U.S.N., over what Gilbert perceived to be an inadequate effort by the captain. This essay focuses on the conflict between two strong figures, each operatingf rom different world views, and each vying for authority. Despite the difficulties these two men faced, the voyage of the Albatross in 1902 must be considered a success, as reflected by the extensive biological samples collected, the many new species of animals discovered, and the resulting publication of important scientific papers.

Charles Henry Gilbert (1859-1928), Naturalist-in-Charge: the 1906 North Pacific Expedition of the Steamer Albatross

Fishery science pioneers often faced challenges in their field work that are mostly unknown to modern biologists. Some of the travails faced by ichthyologist and, later, fishery biologist Charles Henry Gilbert (1859-1928) during his service as Naturalist-in-Charge of the North Pacific cruise ofthe U.S. Bureau of Fisheries Steamer Albatross in 1906, are described here, as are accomplishments of the cruise. The vessel left San Francisco, Calif., on 3 May 1906, just after the great San Francisco earthquake, for scientific exploration of waters of the Aleutian islands, Bering Sea, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, and Japan, returning to San Francisco in December. Because the expedition occurred just after the war between Japan and Russia of 1904-05 floating derelict mines in Japanese waters were often a menace. Major storms caused havoc in the region, and the captain of the Albatross, Lieutenant Commander LeRoy Mason Garrett (1857-1906), U.S.N., was lost at sea, apparently thrown from the vessel during a sudden storm on the return leg of the cruise. Despite such obstacles, Gilbert and the Albatross successfully completed their assigned chores. They occupied 339 dredging and 48 hydrographic stations, and discovered over 180 new species of fishes and many new species of invertebrates. The expedition's extensive biological collections spawned over 30 descriptive publications, some of which remain today as standards of knowledge.

Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee 4th June, 1974

This is the first report from the Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 4th June 1974. The report includes sections on fishery byelaws, estimates for the anticipated income and expenditure on fisheries for the current year, licence duties, the Nursery Stream Project and Holmewrangle hatchery. The section on the Nursery Stream Project includes the reasons for undertaking the project, and the details of the project. The section on the Holmewrangle hatchery looks at low survival rates and reasons for mortality for 1973/1974. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee 3rd September, 1974

This is the report from the Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 3rd September 1974. The report looks at comments of the Regional Fisheries Officer on the report 'Taking Stock', and information including the aims of a report entitled 'Coarse Fisheries'. The report also includes sections on the summary of the stocking carried out from Holmewrangle hatchery, biological work undertaken on the Rivers Liddel, fishery prosecutions, and fish mortalities. This section includes information on the date, location, extent of the kill and the cause. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden & District Fisheries Advisory Committee 14th October, 1975

This is the report from the Eden and District Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 14th October 1975. The report looks at the planning study for the post 1981 period and fisheries activities on the Eden and Esk. This section includes catches of miragtory, brown trout and coarse fish, the summary of the stocking carried out from Holmewrangle hatchery and Biological work undertaken on the Eden. It also contain sections on fish mortalities, new code of fishery byelaws and fishing licence duties. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee 3rd December, 1974

This is the report from the Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 3rd December 1974. The report looks at information on the Water Bailiffs establishment, including the organisation and the duties of both the Fisheries Inspector and the Senior Bailiff. It also includes the comments from the Regional Fisheries Officer on the report on 'Coarse Fisheries'. Also covered is the report by the Unit Fisheries Officer on fisheries activities. This includes biological work carried out including information on an invertebrate bottom sampling programme at 50 sites on the Eden and its tributaries, fish mortalities, information on the fishing of migratory fish, trout and coarse fish, hatchery work and fisheries prosecutions. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden & District Fisheries Advisory Committee 13th January, 1976.

This is the report from the Eden and District Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 13th January 1976. The report contains information on the land drainage representation on local committees, fisheries activities report, salmon stocking on the River Eden, status of Haweswater and Castle Carrock Reservoir, fisheries byelaws, licensing provisions for the River Esk and progress made in implementing the recommendations contained in the 'Taking Stock' publication. The section on fisheries activities reported by area fisheries officers looks at fishing, spawning disease and poaching of migratory fish and coarse fishing. It also contains description of ova obtained at Holmwrange hatchery and provisions of new equipment, biological work carried on Eden and Blackrack Beck and suggestions for new fish counters and traps. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee 14th January, 1975

This is the report from the Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 14th January, 1975. It covers information on the proposed regional fishing licence duties, and the report of the Working Party on future regional hatchery requirements, which includes sections on the future demands for migratory salmonids, brown and rainbow trout, and coarse fish plus the most effective means of meeting future demands. It also covers the Unit Fisheries Officer's report on fisheries activities. This section includes biological work undertaken on the Eden, information on the fishing of migratory fish, trout and coarse fish, hatchery work and prosecutions. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden & District Fisheries Advisory Committee 28th June, 1977.

This is the report from the Eden and District Fisheries Advisory Committee, which was held on the 28th June, 1977. The report looks at the comments of the Regional Fisheries Officer which includes information on salmon, brown trout and sea trout catches in the River Eden; restockings from Holmwrangle Hatchery to some rivers: Eden, Esk and Tarn. Electro fishing information is also given by river (Cocker, Marron, Ellen, Glenderaterra, Ehen, Calder, Irt, Esk or Annas)and stream for 1977. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee 29th April, 1975

This is the report from the Eden Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 29th April, 1975. It covers information on fishery byelaws, and a report by unit fisheries officer on fisheries activities. This section includes work on stocking, biological work carried out, fish surveys, fishing information for migratory fish, trout, and coarse fish, and hatchery work. Information of a fish mortality on the River Petteril is also covered. Other areas looked at include licence duties and inportation of live freshwater fish. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden & District Fisheries Advisory Committee 18th October, 1977

This is the report from the Eden and District Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 18th October, 1977. It covers fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties and a brief bit on draft nets for the River Eden and netting on the Solway Firth. It also looks at the possible development of Rivers Waver and Wampool as a sea trout fishery, in which the report covers the physical descriptions of the catchments, abstractions, discharges, biological aspects, chemical aspects and the present situation regarding fisheries. Also included is the report by the area fisheries officer on fisheries activities which includes information on river conditions and fishing, fish kills on the River Petteril, River Wiza and Ullswater, bailiff activities, stock numbers, and an update on Holmwrangle hatchery. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden & District Fisheries Advisory Committee 29th March, 1977.

This is the report from the Eden and District Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 29th March, 1977. The report contains sections on Fisheries income and expenditure, netting on the Solway Firth, water bailiffs on the River Eden and fisheries activities. The section on fisheries activities includes river conditions and salmon fishing in the River Eden and on the Border Esk; salmon catches from the Border Esk, Eden, and Solway; restocking; and fish mortalities. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.