William Francis Thompson and the dawn of marine fisheries research in California

(2) Presumably John Babcock aided Thompson's entry into the commission.

(3) Carl Westerfield, Executive Officer, State of California, Fish and Game Commission to Thompson, dated San Francisco, 21 February 1917. "We are very desirous to obtain some one to take charge of investigation work in Southern California connected with the commercial fisheries there and hereby tender you this position, which will carry with it a salary of One Hundred Fifty ($150) Dollars per month. We do not at present know how long this work will be continued, but can guarantee that your employment will last at least a year." Archives, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Thompson papers, Box 9, Folder 2.

(4) Thompson to Fish and Game Commission, dated San Francisco, 21 February 1917. "In reply to your letter tendering me employment with the Fish and Game Commission, I would state that the conditions mentioned are perfectly satisfactory." Archives, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Thompson papers, Box 9, Folder 2.

(5) Norman Scofield was considered by some California scientists of the era to be the "father" of marine fisheries research in California (Clark, 1982). He was a member of the first graduating class of Stanford University in 1895. Scofield earned an M.A. degree in zoology from that institution in 1897 while studying under Professor Charles H. Gilbert (Anonymous, 1919c; personal communication, 8 June 2001, from Mark R. Jennings, 33913 Sharon Avenue, Davis, Calif. 95616--9456). Norman Scofield directed marine research for the State of California for 42 years (Croker, 1959).

(6) Norman Scofield helped steer new legislation through the California legislature that levied a tax on all fish purchased by fish dealers. In addition to requiring a license for anyone catching or selling fish, the legislation assessed a "privilege tax" of 2 1/2 cents per hundred pounds of fish. This tax provided a continuing source of funding for the new Department of Commercial Fisheries (Scofield, 1917c; Thompson, 1924a; Clark, 1982).

(7) Stanford University during the early 20th century was the center of ichthyology and of the emerging field of fisheries biology in North America (e.g., Brittan, 1997). During this time, zoology professors from Stanford University were frequently hired to conduct research for the commission. For example, Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus spp., studies were conducted in 1911 by Charles H. Gilbert (later conducted by John Otterbien Snyder, 1867-1943), clam studies (razor clams, Siliqua alta, and other spp.) were undertaken by Frank Walter Weymouth (1884-1963), native oyster, Ostrea conchaphila, research was pursued in 1920 by Harold Heath (1868-1951), and taxonomic work on various families of marine fishes was directed by Edwin C. Starks between about 1915 and 1920 (Bryant, 1921, 1924). Thompson also hired Stanford faculty to investigate fisheries problems. For example, he hired Weymouth to study Pismo clams, Tivela stultorum, during April-June 1919 (Thompson, 1919c). Weymouth became Thompson's Ph.D. advisor after Charles Gilbert's death in 1928 and Thompson completed his doctorate under Weymouth in 1930 (Anonymous, 1931). One of the first definitions of fishery biology was written by Elmer Higgins (1934).