Biographical Sketch of Spencer Fullerton Baird

Spencer Fullerton Baird was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1823. In 1834 he was sent to a Quaker boarding-school kept by Dr. McGraw, at Port Deposit, Maryland, and the year following to the Reading Grammar School. In 1836 he entered Dickinson College, and was graduated at the age of seventeen. After leaving college, his time for several years was devoted to studies in general natural history, to long pedestrian excursions for the purpose of observing animals and plants and collecting specimens, and to the organization of a private cabinet of natural history, which a few years later became the nucleus of the museum of the Smithsonian Institution. During this period he published a number of original papers on natural history. He also read medicine with Dr. Middleton Goldsmith, attending a winter course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, in 1842. His medical course was never formally completed, although in 1848 he received the degree of M. D., honoris causa, from the Philadelphia Medical College. In 1845 he was chosen professor of natural history in Dickinson College, and in 1846 his duties and emoluments were increased by election to the chair of natural history and chemistry in the same institution. In 1848 he declined a call to the professorship of natural science in the University of Vermont. In 1849 he undertook his first extensive literary work, translating and editing the text for the "Iconographic Encyclopedia," an English version of Heck's Bilder Atlas, published in connection with Brockhaus's Conversations Lexikon.

Yield isopleths of Tilapia esculenta Graham 1928 in Lake Victoria and Tilapia nilotica (Linnaeus) 1757 in Lake Albert

The yield equation given by BEVERTON and HOLT (1957) has several parameters which are difficult to estimate for tropical freshwater fish species. Nevertheless, some simplifying assumptions can be made and the most relevant parameters used to enable the construction of yield isopleths. Tilapia esculenfa has the following parameters: maximum length (L ∞=33.8 c.m. growth rate (K) = 0.32, natural mortality rate (M)=0.17 and the length at maturity (1 m)=22 cm. The optimum yield is obtained by catching the fish at a length of first capture of 26 em and a fishing mortality rate of 0.5. Tilapia nilotica with L ∞=49 cm, 1 m=36 cm, K=0.50 and M= 0.30 gives optimum yield when caught at a length of first capture of 35-36 cm with a fishing mortality rate of 0.5-0.6. The stuned Tilapia nilotica of Lake Albert has L ∞=17 cm, K=2.77,1 m=12 cm and M=3.37. With such a very high natural mortality, maximum yields would be obtained hy using a length of first capture less than 9 cm and a fishing mortality rate exceeding 1.8.

On the ecology and explorations of the fisheries of an East African rift valley lake, Part 1: On the bionomics and population structure of Tilapia nilotica Linnaeus 1757 in Lake Baringo, Kenya

An ecological survey of the fisheries of Lake Baringo, Kenya was carried out between August, 1972 and August, 1973. The bionomics and population structure of T. nilotica is described. Sampling was done with multifilament gillnets of graded mesh sizes from 51 mm to 178 mm in approximately 12.5 mm increments. The Lake was divided into three sampling and ecologically different zones - the south, central and north zones. The size range of T. nilotica of both sexes caught was between 5 and 27 cm (mode 16 cm) with a mean length of 16.07 cm. For all the collections, males dominated (55.3%) and a higher proportion of males were caught in January, August and November. The smallest mature male and female was 9 and 10 cm respectively. Males grow faster and mature at larger sizes than females. 50% of all males and females mature at 17.4 and 16:4 cm respectively. The periods of intense spawning were between August and October and January to April. The Tilapia were feeding best in central and north zones and the feeding intensity was reduced in January. Two endoparasites Contracaecum sp. and Clinostomum sp. were isolated from the Tilapia. The "condition" of the fish was better in the north than in the other two zones.

Sexual dimorphism in canine length of woolly spider monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides, E. Geoffroy 1806)

We measured canine teeth from 28 woolly spider monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides) to assess sexual dimorphism and population differences. The specimens are from the Brazilian states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. We found strong sexual dimorphism in canine length for individuals belonging to populations south of 22°00′ latitude but no sexual dimorphism in canine length from individuals of populations north of 21°00′ latitude. Canine length did not vary among females of northern and southern populations. However, southern males had significantly longer canines than northern males. This geographical difference in canine morphology, together with the presence or absence of thumbs and published accounts of differences in genetics and social structure between northern and southern populations, suggests that Brachyteles arachnoides may be composed of at least two subspecies, which appear to be separated by the rivers Grande and Paraiba do Sul and the Serra da Mantiqueira. © 1993 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Calvin Spencer division of estate and estate settlement

This document establishes the division of Calvin Spencer's estate among his heirs as well as the settlement of his estate among his wife and heirs.

12" x 9" envelope from the Department of Interior to H. M. Spencer

This envelope is addressed to H. M. Spencer from the patent office of the Department of Interior. The stamp is dated March 28th of 1911. H.M. Spencer's address is written as R. F. D. No. 1, Cheraw, South Carolina, and the envelope has been written on mathematically with pencil.