Algae from the inland ice of Greenland. [Translation from: Kongl.Vetenskaps-Akademiens Forhandlingar 1871(2) 293-296, 1871.]

On the large inland ice cover of Greenland, where the temperature even during the short summer, falls below freezing some time during the daily 24 hours, it is still possible to find organic life. The author found in melted ice water several species of algae on his ”walk” in the latter part of July 1870. The article describes the finds and tries to identify the algae to family level.

The Origins and Early History of the Steamer Albatross, 1880–18

Spencer Fullerton Baird (Fig. 1), a noted systematic zoologist and builder of scientific institutions in 19th century America, persuaded the U.S. Congress to establish the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries1 in March 1871. At that time, Baird was Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Following the death of Joseph Henry in 1878, he became head of the institution, a position he held until his own demise in 1887. In addition to his many duties as a Smithsonian official, including his prominent role in developing the Smithsonian’s Federally funded National Museum as the repository for governmental scientific collections, Baird directed the Fish Commission from 1871 until 1887. The Fish Commission’s original mission was to determine the reasons and remedies for the apparent decline of American fisheries off southern New England as well as other parts of the United States. In 1872, Congress further directed the Commission to begin a large fish hatching program aimed at increasing the supply of American food f