Marine Fisheries Review 2001: Vol 63 Iss 2

29 Pages·2001·11.9 MB·English

Early 20th Century
Fisheries Science
arine Fisheries
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W. L. Hobart, Editor
J. A. Strader, Managing Editor
On the cover:
Scenes of early 20" century fisheries.
Top left: William F. Thompson aboard the
James Carruthers, 1914. Top right: Landing
fish in Seattle, 1915. Bottom: California sardine
catch, 1917. All photos courtesy of the William F.
Thompson papers, Archives, School of Aquatic and
Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
Articles 63(2), 2001
William Francis Thompson
(1888-1965): a Preeminent Fishery
Biologist of the Early and Mid Twentieth Century J. Richard Dunn
William Francis Thompson
(1888-1965) and His Pioneering Studies
of the Pacific Halibut, Hippoglossus stenolepis J. Richard Dunn
William Francis Thompson
(1888-1965) and the Dawn of
Marine Fisheries Research in California J. Richard Dunn 1
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William Francis Thompson (1888-1965):
a Preeminent Fishery Biologist of the
Early and Mid Twentieth Century
J. RICHARD DUNN
William Francis Thompson (Fig. 1) of the need for conservation of wildlife
was a major figure in fisheries research (Trefethen, 1975), and for over 50 years
on the west coast of the United States he was a major contributor to fishery
in the early and mid 20th century. He science and management as well as to
came to prominence in an era of in- fishery education. During this period
creased awareness in the United States Thompson was arguably the most
widely known fishery scientist in North
America (Anonymous, 1970; Stickney,
1989).
J. Richard Dunn, 521 Summit Avenue East, Born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, in
No. 202, Seattle, WA 98102-4832 is a retired 1888, Will Thompson moved west
fishery biologist with an interest and expertise
in the history of ichthyology and fishery biology with his family to Everett, Wash., in
of the American West. He is a member of the 1903. He demonstrated an early inter-
Affiliate Faculty of the School of Aquatic and
est in the study of natural history and
Fishery Sciences, University of Washington,
Box 355100, Seattle, WA 98195-5100 [e-mail: majored in zoology at the University
jrdunn @u.washington.edu] of Washington, Seattle, from 1906 to
1909. David Starr Jordan (1851—1931)!,
President of Leland Stanford Jr. Uni-
versity in Palo Alto, Calif., learned
ABSTRACT—William Francis Thompson
of Thompson’s drive and dedication.
(1888-1965) was a preeminent fishery sci-
entist of the early to mid twentieth century. Jordan offered Thompson a scholar-
Educated at Stanford University in Cali- ship, and in 1909 Thompson transferred
fornia (B.A. 1911, Ph.D. 1930), Thompson from the University of Washington to
conducted pioneering research on_ the Stanford University where he became a
Pacific halibut, Hippoglossus_ stenolepis,
research assistant to Jordan. Thompson
from 1914 to 1917 for the British Columbia
Provincial Fisheries Department. He then graduated with a B.A. degree in zool-
directed marine fisheries research for the ogy in 1911? and published ten papers
State of California from 1917 to 1924, was on the taxonomy of marine fishes during
Director of Investigations for the Interna-
1910-14, mainly as junior author with
tional Fisheries Commission from 1924
to 1939, and Director of the International Jordan (Dunn, 2001a).
Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission from Pursuing graduate work at Stanford
1937 to 1942. He was also Director of the University in the fall of 1911, Thomp-
School of Fisheries, University of Washing-
ton, Seattle, from 1930 to 1947. Thompson
was the founding director in 1947 of the Jordan was the preeminent ichthyologist of
Fisheries Research Institute at the Uni- North America and supervised the work of many
versity of Washington and served in that students who subsequently became leaders in
capacity until his retirement in 1958. He ichthyology and fishery science. His autobi-
was a dominant figure in fisheries research ography (Jordan, 1922) provides a treasure of
of the Pacific Northwest and influenced information on the history of ichthyology and
a succession of fishery scientists with his etahrel yh isftiosrhye ryo f siccihentchey.o loAgdyd itisi ogniavle n ibnyf oPrimeattsicohn anodn Figure 1.—William F. Thompson
yield-based analysis of fishery stocks, as at Stanford University, May 1913.
Anderson (1997).
opposed to studying the fishes’ environment. Source: Photograph No. 444 from
2 Thompson received his Ph.D. degree in 1930
Will Thompson was also a major figure in from Stanford University (Anonymous, 1931). the William F. Thompson papers,
education, and many of his former students Additional information concerning ichthyology Archives, School of Aquatic and
attained leadership positions in fisheries and fishery science at that institution is given by Fishery Sciences, University of Wash-
research and administration. Brittan (1997). ington, Seattle.
son came under the influence of Charles Commission in Seattle in 1925. Ex- {1991]). He initially retained his other
Henry Gilbert (1859-1928), a zoology panding his earlier Pacific halibut stud- positions as Director of the “Halibut
professor and eminent early fishery bi- ies, he engaged a small staff of scientists Commission” and of the U.W. School
ologist.2 Gilbert thought highly of that undertook the applied research of Fisheries, thus holding three jobs si-
Thompson and arranged jobs for him necessary for the scientific manage- multaneously!® Thompson followed his
during the summers between university ment of the halibut fishery. Thompson previous approach to fisheries research
semesters, first with the California Fish remained as Director of Investigations by building a small but talented staff of
and Game Commission (1911) and then for the Commission until 1939. During scientists and broadly attacking a wide
with the British Columbia Provincial his tenure halibut abundance increased, range of research projects pertinent to
Fisheries Department of Canada (1912- as did the commercial harvest. The hali- the current fisheries problems. He di-
13). These assignments entailed surveys but fishery ultimately was considered a rected the research that resulted in the
of shellfish resources (Dunn, 2001a). model of a well-managed fishery.® 7 construction of fish ladders at Hell’s
Excelling in these studies, Thompson Thompson was appointed Director of Gate on the Fraser River. These ladders
was then entrusted by the Provincial the School of Fisheries (now the School were built to enable salmon to bypass
Fisheries Department to undertake a of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences), Uni- migration obstructions caused by certain
comprehensive, full-time investiga- versity of Washington, in 1930. This high water-level conditions.? Thompson
tion of the Pacific halibut, Hippoglos- appointment was initially a part-time and the Commission were generally
sus stenolepis, in British Columbia. position in addition to his duties at the credited with restoring the abundance of
Thompson conducted an intensive study International Fisheries Commission salmon in the Fraser River.'®: |! He re-
of this species from 1914 to 1917 and (Stickney, 1989). signed from the “Salmon Commission”
published the results in seven landmark The International Pacific Salmon in 1942 and returned to the University of
papers (Dunn, 2001a). Fisheries Commission was established Washington as the full-time Director of
In 1917 research on the halibut began in 1937 to restore the sockeye salmon, the School of Fisheries.
to wind down as concern intensified in Oncorhynchus nerka, runs of the Fraser Thompson was the Director of the
Canada over the ravages of World War I. River, British Columbia (Roos [1991]). School of Fisheries for over 17 years
Thompson was then hired by the Califor- Thompson, by then recognized as one (1930-1947). During his tenure, the
nia Fish and Game Commission to inves- of the premier fishery scientists of the school developed into a preeminent
tigate that state’s marine fisheries. While era, was chosen to be the director of facility to train fishery scientists, and it
there, he helped found, and direct, the this newly formed organization (Roos graduated many individuals who subse-
Commission’s first marine fisheries re- quently became prominent fishery sci-
search laboratory. Thompson focused his entists and leaders in fisheries research
® Several authors have given plaudits to the
investigations initially on the albacore management of the Pacific halibut and, either and administration (Stickney, 1989).!?
tuna, Thunnus alalunga, and then on the directly or by implication, to Thompson’s role in After the close of World War II, the
Pacific sardine, Sardinops sagax, as the this effort. Bevan (1965) wrote: “The work of the salmon packers of Bristol Bay, Alaska,
Pacific Halibut Fisheries Commission provides
commercial harvest of this latter species an outstanding example of successful regulation
began to increase (Dunn, 2001b).* by means of a quota. The commission’s regula- * Thompson resigned as Director of the Interna-
The International Fisheries Com- tion has resulted in virtually full rebuilding of tional Fisheries Commission in 1939.
halibut stocks of the North Pacific.” Crutchfield
mission (now the International Pacific (1965) commented: “The halibut programme ’ Further information on the International Pacific
Salmon Fisheries Commission is given by Roos
Halibut Commission) was established has been a conspicuous success—from a bio- [1991] and Gilbert (1988).
logical standpoint.” Parsons (1993) noted: “W. F.
in 1923 by treaty between the United Thompson, the first director of the Halibut Com- '0 Van Cleve (1966) wrote about Thompson:
States and Canada to investigate and mission, identified a relationship between catch- “He inaugurated an intensive investigation of the
regulate the fishery for Pacific halibut. per-unit-of-effort and the amount of fishing effect of the varying water levels at Hell’s Gate
effort (Thompson and Bell, 1934). This led him in the Fraser River Canyon, and found that the
Thompson, the logical choice, was ap- to suggest that some restrictions of fishing effort block to migrating sockeye, created by a land
pointed Director of Investigations for would improve the state of the halibut stocks. slide in 1912, was still effective at certain river
Some management measures were taken by levels. This study resulted in the construction of
the newly formed Commission, left the Halibut Commission and the halibut stocks the Hell’s Gate fishways which, with subsequent
California, and began his work for the increased in abundance. There was later contro- additions to provide passage at higher and lower
versy about the extent to which this was due to water levels, made possible the restoration of
the appearance of a strong year-class at the same the sockeye salmon runs in the upper Fraser
* Gilbert subsequently became famous for his time the measures were introduced.” Scheiber River.” Roos [1991] wrote the following about
pioneering studies of the life history of Pacific (1994) wrote that “....which — on the basis of Thompson: “His findings with regard to Hells
salmon. More information on Gilbert is given by Thompson’s investigations of the causes of hali- Gate published as the first Commission Bulletin
Dunn (1997). but depletion — instituted a halibut fishing regime set the course for the Commission’s restoration
+ Smith (1994) described some of Thompson’s that was widely regarded as being responsible for of Fraser River sockeye and pink [O. gorbuscha]
scientific contributions made in California. engineering the recovery to commercially viable salmon stocks.”
> Information on the background and origins of levels of a fishery that had nearly died out from '! Evenden (2000) described Thompson’s role in
the International Pacific Halibut Commission is uncontrolled over-harvesting on a virtually slash- building the Hell’s Gate fishways and the atten-
given in Anonymous (1978) and at the Commis- and-burn basis.” dant controversy about their need.
sion’s web site: http://www.iphc.washington.edu/ ’ Other possible interpretations of the causes of '? A brief history of the School of Fisheries com-
halcom/default.htm. Further information about the recovery of halibut stocks, other than man- piled by the author is available on the website of
the Commission is contained in Bell (1981), and agement actions, are reviewed by Skud (1975) the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences [http:
Gilbert (1988). and Smith (1994). //www.fish.washington.edu/history/].
Marine Fisheries Review
became concerned about the declin-
ing abundance of salmon in Alaska. In
1945 they asked Thompson to under-
take a preliminary study of the situa-
tion and to make recommendations for
action. Thompson visited Bristol Bay,
reviewed much of the available data
on the salmon fisheries of the region,
and wrote a report to the packers.'? He
called for long-term studies of the runs
to various watersheds of Bristol Bay and
noted that such investigations were then
lacking. The salmon packers funded an
expanded investigation by Thompson
in 1946 and 1947. The salmon canners
of southeastern Alaska soon thereafter
asked that Thompson also undertake
scientific investigations in that region
(Stickney, 1989).
Realizing that a comprehensive in-
vestigation of salmon in Alaska would
ultimately require a relatively large
organization, Thompson organized the
Fisheries Research Institute at the Uni-
versity of Washington. The university’s
Board of Regents approved the institute
in 1947 and placed it administratively
in the Graduate School and therefore
distinct from the School of Fisheries.
Thompson resigned the directorship of
the School of Fisheries in 1947 and was
Figure 2.—William F. Thompson, ca. 1951. Courtesy, Archives of the University
named Research Professor and Director
of Washington Libraries, Seattle. William F. Thompson papers, Accession Number
of the new institute (Stickney, 1989). 2597-77-1, Folder 39.
Over the years The Fisheries Research
Institute undertook detailed studies of
Pacific salmon in various areas of south- industry that, in turn, respected and era. He influenced a myriad of fishery
eastern, central, and western Alaska. In trusted him. He generally received broad scientists by studying the characteristics
the early years, this research was funded support from industry and government of the fisheries, rather than the environ-
mainly by the Alaska salmon industry. for his research. ment, to develop management strategies
Later, the Federal Government provided Thompson retired from the director- (Kendall and Duker, 1998). Thompson’s
major support for these studies. The in- ship of the Fisheries Research Institute work with the halibut and salmon of the
stitute, well known for the high quality in 1958 at the age of 70. He remained Pacific Northwest and Alaska became
of its research (Stickney, 1989)'*, made active as a consultant to various fishery classic, but at times controversial, stud-
major contributions over a 50-year period agencies, including the Bureau of Com- ies of commercial fisheries (Fig. 3).!'>
to knowledge of Pacific salmon biology. mercial Fisheries (now the National He published about 150 scientific pa-
During the early part of this era, Thomp- Marine Fisheries Service), the Interna- pers and was known for his original
son became the “expert” on salmon of tional North Pacific Fisheries Commis- studies of population dynamics of com-
Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, and he sion, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- mercial fishes.
was involved in most aspects of salmon neers. Thompson also remained close to Under Thompson’s leadership, the
research (Fig. 2). Thompson maintained the salmon fishing industry as an advi- School of Fisheries at the University of
close relations with the Alaska salmon sor. Many scientists and administrators Washington became world-renowned.
held him in high esteem and welcomed He was the doctoral advisor for many of
his honest and forthright comments and the principal scientists who carried out
'3 Stickney (1989) discussed Thompson’s initial
report to the salmon industry. criticism.
'4 A history of the Fisheries Research Institute is Will Thompson died on 7 November
on the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences web 1965 (Van Cleve, 1966). He left a legacy 5 Additional information on Thompson's impact
site at [http://www.fish.washington.edu/research/ on fishery science is given by Smith (1994) and
alaska/history.html]. as a preeminent fishery scientist of his Kendall and Duker (1998).
63(2)
eries: problems in resource management, p.
25—40. Univ. Wash. Press, Seattle.
Brittan, M. R. 1997. The Stanford school of
ichthyology: eighty years (1891-1970) from
Jordan (1851-1931) to Myers (1905-1985).
In T. W. Pietsch and W. D. Anderson, Jr. (Edi-
tors), Collection building in ichthyology and
herpetology, p. 233-264. Am. Soc. Ichthyol.
Herpetol., Spec. Publ. 3.
Crutchfield, J. A. 1965. Economic objectives
of fishery management. /n J. A. Crutchfield
(Editor), The fisheries: problems in resource
management, p. 43-64. Univ. Wash. -Press,
Seattle.
Dunn, J. R. 1997. Charles Henry Gilbert (1859-
1928): pioneer ichthyologist of the American
West. In T. W. Pietsch and W. D. Anderson,
Jr. (Editors), Collection building in ichthyol-
ogy and herpetology, p. 265-278. Am. Soc.
Ichthyol. Herpetol., Spec. Publ. 3.
«2001a[ 20 02]. William Francis Thomp
son (1888-1965) and his pioneering studies
of the Pacific halibut, Hippoglossus stenol-
epis. Mar. Fish. Rev. 63(2):5—14
. 20b0 [21002 ]. William Francis Thomp-
son (1888-1965) and the dawn of marine
fisheries research in California. Mar. Fish.
Rev. 63(2): 15-24
Evenden, M. 2000. Remaking Hells Gate
salmon, science, and the Fraser River, 1938
1948. British Columbia Stud. 127:47-82
Gilbert, D. 1988. Fish for tomorrow. Univ
Wash., School Fish., Seattle, 162 p
Jordan, D. S. 1922. The days of a man. World
Book Co., Yonkers-on-Hudson, N.Y. 2 vol.,
710, 906 p
Kendall, A. W., Jr., and G. J. Duker. 1998. The
developmer )} t{ of recruitment fisheries ocean
ography in tt }r e United States. Fish. Oc eanogr
7(2):69-88
Parsons, L. S. 1993. Management of marine fish
eries in Canada. Natl. Res. Council. Can. and
Dep. Fish. Oceans, Ottawa, 763 p
Pietsch, T. W., and W. D. Anderson, Jr. (Editors)
1997. Collection building in ichthyology and
herpetology. Am. Soc. Ichthyol. Herpetol.,
Spec. Publ. 3, 593 p
Roos, J. F. [1991]. Restoring Fraser River
salmon. Pac. Salmon Comm., New Westmin
ster, B.C., Can., 445 p
Scheiber, H. N. 1994. Modern U.S. Pacific
oceanography and the legacy of British and
Figure 3.—William F. Thompson, 1964. Photograph by Josef Scaylea, Seattle.
northern European science. /n S. Fisher
Courtesy, Josef Scaylea, The Seattle Gallery, and the Archives, School of Aquatic (Editor), Man and the marine environment,
and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle. p. 36-75 5. Exeter Mar. Stud. 9, Univ. Exeter
Press, U.K
Skud, B. E. 1975. Revised estimates of halibut
abundance and the Thompson-Burkenroad
fishery work on the Pacific coast after pioneering accomplishments remain in debate. Int. Pac. Halibut Comm., Sci. Rep.
56, 36 p
World War II. He was also the major high esteem today.
Smith, T. D. 1994. Scaling fisheries: the science
fishery researcher on the West Coast of measuring the effects of fishing, 1855
Literature Cited
during the interlude between the two 1955. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge,
World Wars (Scheiber, 1994). Thomp- Anonymous. 1931. Abstracts of dissertations, U.K., 392 p
Stanford University 1930-31, vol. VI. Stan Stickney, R. R. 1989. Flagship: a history of fish
son was known as a highly focused ford Univ., Calif., 240 p eries at the University of Washington. Kend
individual and an intense worker who, : 1970, William Francis Thompson. /n all-Hunt Publ. Co., Dubuque, Iowa, 153 p
at times, was possessed of a difficult The national cyclopedia of American biogra Thompson, W. F., and F. H. Bell. 1934. Biologi-
phy, 52:617-618. James T. White & Co., N.Y. cal statistics of the Pacific halibut fishery (2)
personality (Stickney, 1989). ____ . 1978. The Pacific halibut: biology, effect of changes in intensity upon total yield
Always possessing a high concern fishery, and management. Int. Pac. Halibut and yield per unit of gear. Int. Pac. Halibut
Comm., Tech. Rep. 16, 56 p. Comm., Rep. 8, 49 p
for ethics, Thompson helped found the Bell, F. H. 1981. The Pacific halibut: the resource Trefethen, J. B. 1975. An American crusade for
American Institute of Fishery Research and the fishery. Alaska Northwest Publ. Co., wildlife. Winchester Press, N.Y., 400 p
Biologists in 1956 to insure high stan- Anchorage, 267 p. Van Cleve, R. 1966. W. F. Thompson, 1888-
Bevan, D. E. 1965. Methods of fishery regula 1965. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 23(11):1790-
dards in the profession. Thompson’s tion. In J. A. Crutchfield (Editor), The fish- 1793
Marine Fisheries Review
William Francis Thompson (1888-1965) and
His Pioneering Studies of the Pacific Halibut,
Hippoglossus stenolepis
J. RICHARD DUNN
Introduction for David Starr Jordan (1851-1931), of publications with him. Thompson
then the leading ichthyologist of the graduated from Stanford University in
William Francis Thompson (1888- United States as well as the President 1911 with a B.A. degree in zoology.
1965) was born in Minnesota but moved of Stanford University.*- > During the One of Thompson’s professors at Stan-
in 1903 with his parents to Everett, early part of the 20th century, Stanford ford University was Charles Henry Gil-
Wash., where his father, Pirrie, worked University was the center of research bert (1859-1928), the Chairman of the
for the Great Northern Railway. Will at- on fishes in the United States (Brittan, Department of Zoology (Brittan, 1997;
tended local schools and demonstrated 1997). Thompson therefore transferred Dunn, 1997). Thompson studied ichthy-
an early interest in natural history. He from the University of Washington to ology under Gilbert and was exposed to
entered the University of Washington, Stanford University in 1909 where he Gilbert's critical thinking and fine eye
Seattle, in 1906 and majored in zoology. ' continued his studies in zoology. for detail. Remaining at Stanford Uni-
Thompson impressed his professors with As an undergraduate student, Thomp- versity, Thompson began his graduate
his work habits, and his diligence was son assisted Jordan in his study of the work under Gilbert in the fall of 1911,
noticed in 1909 by a visiting professor taxonomy and distribution of fishes continuing through 1913, and was thus
from Leland Stanford Junior University and, in the process, co-authored a series introduced by Gilbert to the then newly
in Palo Alto, California, Edwin Chapin developing field of fishery biology.°
Starks (1867-1932). Soon thereafter Gilbert was a compulsive worker, and
Thompson received an offer to work Information about Thompson’s early life is con was strongly impressed by Thompson’s
tained in an unpublished family memoir: Thomp-
son, J.B . [Editor, dated July 1,1925-July 1, 1972] hard work and dedication to the task at
“Thompson: a family history,” unpaginated, but ca hand.’ Thompson’s first field experience
372 p. A photocopy of this manuscript has been
J. Richard Dunn, 521 Summit Avenue East, deposited in the W. F. Thompson papers, Archives,
No. 202, Seattle, WA 98102-4832 is a retired School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Univer
fishery biologist with an interest and expertise sity of Washington. Hereafter referred to as J. B ® Thompson wrote that his knowledge of fisher
in the history of ichthyology and fishery biology Thompson, manuscr. (The volume and page num les science, as a study of the effect of commer
cial and sport fishing on fish populations, was
of the American West. He is a member of the bers referred to in this paper are those that I added
Affiliate Faculty of the School of Aquatic and to my photocopy of the manuscript; the original is obtained in seminars at Stanford University and
Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, variously paginated). through reading the reports of the great European
Box 355100, Seattle, WA 98195-5100 [e-mail At the University of Washington, Thompson's tiwnovrestthi gaTthoorms pssounch, asa ndJ ohoatnh ersH jor(Jt., B.D ’ATrhcoym psWoenn,-
jrdunn @u.washington.edu] mentor was Trevor Charles Digby Kincaid manuscr. II:8, see footnote 1). Johan Hjort
(1872-1970), a Professor of Zoology who was (1869-1948) was a Norwegian biologist who
a principal in creating the University of Wash- became an important figure in fisheries of the
ington’s marine biology station at Friday Harbor, first half of the 20th century. He was a founder
ABSTRACT—William Francis Thompson Wash. (Pietsch, 1997) of the International Council for the Exploration
Starks was a visiting professor conducting of the Sea, a major fisheries coordinating agency
(1888-1965), as a temporary employee of research at the Friday Harbor station in 1909 in Europe (Kendall and Duker, 1998). D’Arcy
the British Columbia Provincial Fisheries where Thompson was a summer student assistant Thompson (1860-1948) was an internationally
Department, was assigned in 1914 to under- (J. B. Thompson, manuscr., 1:68). Additional acclaimed professor at St. Andrews College in
take full-time studies of the Pacific halibut, information about Starks is given by McFarland Scotland. He had a broad knowledge of natural
Hippoglossus stenolepis. The fishery was (1933) and Pietsch (1997) history, the classics, and oceanography, but was
showing signs of depletion, so Thompson * Jordan was mentor to many of the prominent best known to biologists for his application of
undertook the inguiry into this resource, ichthyologists of the era. His autobiography mathematics to biology. His book On Growth
the first intensive study on the Pacific hali- e(xJoprldoarna,t ion1 92of2 ) fisohf faenrds fiisnhseirgihets oifn tot he theea rlye ra2 0tohf athned peFroiromd ((GDi. lliTsphioem, ps1o9n7,6 ) 1917 ) is a classic of
but. Three years later, Thompson, working
alone, had provided a basic foundation of century. Further information about Jordan is ’ Gilbert wrote in early 1910 to John Pease Bab-
given by Myers (1951) and Brittan (1997). cock (1855-1936), then with the California Fish
knowledge for the subsequent management Thompson received a wire from Professor and Game Commission, indicating that he had
of this resource. He published seven land- Starks in August 1909 offering him a position as a new student by the name of Thompson who
mark papers on this species, and this work an assistant to Dr. Jordan. The wire concluded, looked very promising: “He is an indefatigable
marked the first phase of a career in fisher- “Come as soon as possible.” J. B. Thompson, worker and cares for little else ” Gilbert to
ies science that was to last nearly 50 years. manuscr. 1:66 (see footnote 1). continued
in fisheries biology occurred during the The sources for the information pre- “In the case of the halibut, predic-
summero f 1911 when he surveyed clam sented here include Thompson’s pub- tion is made that the fishery will
beds in California for that state’s Fish lished works as well as other pertinent be depleted, although the success
and Game Commission (Van Cleve, publications, his personal papers in the of the catch in recent years would
1966).° archives of the University of Washington not seem to warrant this. Immedi-
This paper describes Thompson's Libraries, and records in the archives of ate study should be given to its
early years as a fishery biologist.” He the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci- life-history, however, in order that
conducted the first comprehensive stud- ences, University of Washington. Addi- protective or other measures be
ies of the Pacific halibut, Hippoglossus tional documents were examined from the taken to conserve it.”
stenolepis, and laid the scientific founda- Stanford University Libraries, Stanford,
tion for the subsequent management of Calif., the British Columbia Archives and In an attempt to remedy this lack of
this resource in the 1930's by the Inter- Records Service, Victoria, B.C., Can., and knowledge, John Babcock, the Assis-
national Fisheries Commission (now the from the files of the International Pacific tant Commissioner of Fisheries for the
International Pacific Halibut Commis- Halibut Commission, Seattle. Province of British Columbia, turned
sion), which he then directed.'” These to Stanford University in 1912 and
Thompson Joins the
initial studies by Thompson marked the hired its preeminent fishery scientist,
British Columbia Provincial
beginning of a 50-year career in which Professor Charles Gilbert, as a tempo-
he became the most widely known fish- Fisheries Department rary employee to investigate the salmon
ery scientist and educator of the Pacific In the early 20th century, concern over resources of the Province. Babcock had
Northwest (Dunn, 2001a). the depletion of the game animals and just returned to the British Columbia
sport and commercial fishes was increas- Provincial Fisheries Department after
ing. Human populations in the western a short stay (1910-1911) in California
(continued) Babcock, dated Stanford Uni United States were growing, and the vi- with that state’s fisheries agency (Dunn,
versity, 10 January 1910, British Columbia sions of an earlier era of a vast abundance 1996). Gilbert hired Thompson as his
Archives and Records Service, Group 435, Box of fish and other wildlife were becoming assistant.'' Because of Thompson’s ex-
198, Folder 1909. Babcock became an important
contact in the fisheries field to both Gilbert and mere reflections of the past. Rapidly dwin- perience in 1911 inventorying clams in
Thompson. Babcock was the Commissioner of dling populations of wildlife generated an California, Babcock asked him to sur-
Fisheries for the Province of British Columbia
from 1901-1906. He was then Deputy Commis interest in their preservation, which led to vey the shellfish resources of British
sioner from 1907 to 1909 and, later, Assistant the acceleration of the American conser- Columbia. This initial work by Thomp-
Commissioner (1912-35). He was with the Cali vation movement (Reiger, 1975). son was conducted in the summers of
fornia State Board of Fish Commissioners from
1891 to 1901 and from 1910 to 1911. A brief Knowledge of the fishery resources 1912 and 1913, while he was a gradu-
biography of Babcock is present in the Babcock of British Columbia in the early 20th ate student at Stanford University, and
papers, Manuscripts, Special Collections, and
University Archives, University of Washington century was woefully inadequate for quickly resulted in two publications on
Libraries (hereafter University of Washington management of the stocks. The Report the shellfish of the Province (Thomp-
Archives), Accession No. 860-1, Box 1. An of the Commissioner of Fisheries for son, 191 4a, b).!
obituary of Babcock may be found in the Victo
ria Daily Times, 13 October 1936. For more on the Province of British Columbia for In 1914 Babcock asked Gilbert to
Babcock, see Gilbert (1988) and Dunn (1996) the year ending December 31st, 1913 undertake a survey of the British Co-
* Thompson was hired by Babcock, then Chief (Anonymous, 1914) stated: lumbia halibut fishery. Gilbert, in turn,
Deputy to the Board of the Fish and Game Com
missioners of California, to survey the abundance suggested that Thompson undertake
and distribution of Pismo clams, Tivela stulto “The growing future of the fisheries the work “under my instruction.”'° The
rum, in northern California. Thompson's field of British Columbia, which every-
diary for his clam surveys of 1911 is present in
the files of the International Pacific Halibut Com thing portends, accentuates the need Babcock was pleased that Thompson was
mission, Seattle, Wash. See also J. B. Thompson, for fuller investigation of the habits available for work “this summer” and offered
manuscr. 1:72—73 (see footnote 1) him a job to study shellfish for $75 a month and
and distribution of the food-fishes expenses from and to Stanford University. Bab
” Elmer Higgins (1934) was likely the first person
of the Coast. No attempts on any cock wanted Thompson to begin work on 15 May
to define the term “fishery biologist” and to artic
ulate its aims and methods, with an emphasis on worthy scale have as yet been made 1912. Babcock to Thompson, dated Victoria, 25
a quantitative approach to the fisheries in this direction and aside from the AUpnriivle rsi1t9y12 . of LetWtaesr hinisg tcoonp iedA rchtoi veCs., H. AcGcielsbseirotn
'’ The International Fisheries Commission was investigations conducted by the Number 2597-77-1, Box 12, Folder 4
established in 1923 by treaty between the United
States and Canada. The Commission was orga- Department in the past few years, > Thompson’s field diaries for the years 1912 and
1913 are present in the files of the International
nized to conduct research on the halibut and the result of which have been given
to regulate the fishery to provide the necessary Pacific Halibut Commission, Seattle, Wash
management of the resource (Anonymous, 1978). to the public in the annual reports, * | was unable to locate any correspondence
It represented the first international attempt to there is but scanty literature dealing in which Babcock specifically asked Gilbert to
conserve and replenish a marine fishery (Skud, with this very important subject.” investigate the halibut. However, letters from
1973). The Commission’s first Director was Wil- Gilbert to Babcock that discussed the subject are
liam Francis Thompson. The Commission was present, e.g., Gilbert to Babcock, dated Stanford
renamed the International Pacific Halibut Com- This same report (Anonymous, 1914) University, 18 March 1914: “Lam greatly pleased
mission in 1953. For additional information on the called for particular attention to be di- that you are to utilize Thompson this coming
establishment of the Commission, see Bell (1981) year. He will accept and will be most useful.”
and Gilbert (1988). rected at the Pacific halibut: continued
Marine Fisheries Review
Department then hired Thompson as a praise from Gilbert for his industrious- to reach near-optimum productivity in
temporary employee, and he duly began ness, with the latter writing to Babcock: later years.”
to study the halibut.'* As noted in the “He is certainly an engine to work and Thompson’s plan of study of the
Annual Report of the Commission, “The will improve in finish.”'* halibut included four elements, based
first systematic attempt to trace the life- The halibut fishery was then relative- on the research approach used in the
history of the halibut was inaugurated by ly young, being developed by Canadian North Sea. According to some of his
the Department when W. F. Thompson and United States fishermen, but one later writings, Thompson’s first objec-
was assigned the work” (Anonymous, whose stocks appeared to be declining tive was the collection of statistical data
1915). The report further noted that in abundance. Thompson noted that the from the fishery to measure “catch-per-
Thompson “started actively the collec- supply of halibut might have been in unit-of-effort.” Second was to attempt
tion of specimens on a scale never before danger as the best-known halibut banks to measure “racial” differences among
attempted” (Anonymous, 1915).'> were becoming seriously depleted. the stocks; third was to determine the
For Thompson, the halibut inves- Each season the catches were obtained history of the fishery, its expansion and
tigation became a full-time, but still from more distant banks, and it became then depletion; and, finally, the use of
temporary, job with the Department.'® evident that the supply was limited and age determination to develop population
The Commissioner’s Report for 1914 rapidly decreasing. Hence, ift his source parameters. Thompson was able to im-
stated, “The impossibility of dealing of food was to be maintained, some pro- mediately implement some, but not all,
with a subject of this scope in the short tection of the resource appeared to be of these approaches. He later claimed
summer months was recognized by the necessary. Before any protection could that his study of catch-per-unit-of-effort
Department, and Mr. Thompson was be extended to this important resource, and his examination of the history of the
detailed to give his entire time to the knowledge of the life history of the fishery to detect depletion were the first
problem” (Anonymous, 1915). Thomp- halibut was required and, at that time, such studies to be applied to an Ameri-
son was to be employed on a year-round little such information Was available can fishery (Van Cleve, 1966).7°:-
basis at a salary of $100 per month plus (Thompson, 1915). In May 1914 Thompson began a de-
expenses. | He again received high Depletion of deep-sea fisheries had tailed study of the life history of the Pa-
previously been argued, but never cific halibut. He made many trips aboard
(continued) British Columbia Archives and widely accepted as fact.'? During his halibut fishing vessels in Canadian
Records Center, hereafter British Columbia work on the halibut from 1914 to 1917, waters and as far west as Kodiak Island,
Archives, Group 435, Box 56, Folder 509. Gil
bert to Babcock, dated Stanford University, 8 Thompson demonstrated the reality and Alaska. Thompson’s basic approach
April 1914: “I believe it is important to push the extent of the depletion of the fishery and was to collect information on age and
halibut investigation, but do not see how I can made recommendations for its restora- growth, length and weight, and sex and
carry it very far this year. What would you think
of putting Thompson on that work this summer, tion. According to Van Cleve (1966), maturity of halibut and to determine the
under my instructions? He could pretty well Thompson “not only demonstrated his variation present in these parameters.*?
clean that up in the year, besides finishing the ability for independent thinking but also Additionally, he was interested in the
shell-fish survey and getting me the fall salmon
material which I need. He will do much better revealed his training in meticulous ob- timing, duration, and location of the
if he be given definite tasks, or rather definite servation and careful measurement that halibut spawning season. He therefore
subjects for investigation. The halibut job will he had learned so well from Professor investigated the fecundity of the species
be a big one and will require continued work on
the halibut banks, so the fish are all eviscerated Charles H. Gilbert. So successful was by studying the number, size, and matu-
there.” British Columbia Archives, Group 435, Thompson’s work that the fishery was rity of ova produced by female halibut.
Box 56, Folder 509 Thompson also determined the age at
* Thompson's field diaries for the years 1914-16
and for part of 1917 are present in the files of which the fish matured. The food of
(continued ) Staff for Month of July 1912, Gov-
the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the halibut was investigated, and notes
ernment of British Columbia. British Columbia
Seattle, Wash. Archives, Group 435, Box 86, Folder 818. His were made on halibut parasites and
> When Thompson began his studies (Thomp salary was increased for 1914. See Night Tele-
son, 1915), virtually nothing had been published gram from D. N. McIntyre, Deputy Commis
on the life history of the Pacific halibut sioner of Fisheries [n.d., marked in pen 1913} Thompson and Freeman (1930) wrote a history
Thompson wrote later that undertaking the to W. F. Thompson, c/o Dr. Gilbert, Stanford of the halibut fishery. For a more recent summary
halibut study was the major turning point of his University, Calif.: “As instructed by Commis of the fishery, see Bell (1981)
career. He apparently discussed the halibut proj- sioner to offer you year’s engagement at hundred J. B. Thompson, manuscr [11-69-70 (see
ect with his fellow graduate students at Stanford month and traveling expenses to continue clam footnote |)
University who, according to Thompson, consid- investigations and such other field work as may
During his field seasons, Thompson corre-
ered the task too difficult to undertake, e.g. “who be desired by department.” British Columbia sponded with Gilbert, who offered suggestions
could study a fish a hundred fathoms deep in the Archives, Group 435, Box 93, Folder 911
to Thompson about lines of inquiry to pursue.
ocean, without even a vessel?” Thompson then * Gilbert to Babcock, dated Stanford Univer- As an example, in the summer of 1914 Gilbert
wrote “So | promptly got off the ‘bandwagon’ sity, 30 October 1914. “Thompson is here hard advised Thompson on research methods and
of the most popular and overcrowded fields of at work on otoliths and scales. He is certainly concluded with a word of praise, “It is a fascinat-
endeavor and into a very new one where | was an engine to work and will improve in finish.” ing problem and I do not know anyone else who
alone on the ground floor.” J. B. Thompson, British Columbia Archives, Group 435, Box 56, is so likely to work it out in an exhaustive and
manuscr. III:68-69 (see footnote 1). Folder 511. trustworthy fashion.” Gilbert to Thompson, dated
'? Records show that Thompson was paid $75.00 '9 A history of the early arguments about the Victoria, 28 July 1914, University of Washington
for July 1912. Schedule D, Salaries of depletion of sea fisheries is given by Smith Archives, Accession Number 2597-77-1, Box 1,
continued (1994). Folder 51.
Figure 1.—William F. Thompson, Sidney Island, B.C., 1912. Source: William F. Thompson papers, Archives, School of Aquatic
and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle.
potential predators. The initial results Thompson spent many days at sea especially to those fished by ves-
of this research were published in 1915 aboard halibut boats to collect data sels from Canadian ports.”
(Thompson, 1915). from the catches (Fig. 1—5).*4 The boats
Thompson first looked for scien- were small and cramped, the weather The work was arduous and poten-
tific as opposed to anecdotal evidence of was often uncooperative, and Thomp- tially dangerous (Thompson, 1915):
depletion in the halibut stocks. During son found the general conditions quite
his numerous trips aboard halibut uncomfortable. As he noted in his first “The fish were examined on the
schooners, he quickly became aware of halibut report (Thompson, 1915): deck as they were brought in. The
the ship’s logs and the careful manner in decks were always so slippery
which masters and mates of the vessels “The work concerning which this and slimy that it was necessary to
maintained catch and location records. preliminary report is issued was lash the fish down ‘fore and aft’
He obtained the trust of the vessel cap- begun in May, 1914, when the to guard against the rolling move-
tains and was allowed to examine ship’s first trip to the fishing-grounds was ments of the vessels as they lay
logs for over 900 halibut fishing voyages made. Since then numerous trips in the trough of the seas. Also, of
taken from about 1902 to 1915.73 These have been made to various banks, course, the place chosen to work
records provided the data for his analy- on could not be in the way of the
ses of Pacific halibut catches and offered fishermen at their work, and it
valuable insight into the condition of the *4 Thompson spent much of 1914 and 1915 at was, therefore, necessarily distant
sea collecting data. For example, he was aboard
fishery (Thompson, 1916a). the halibut schooner James Carruthers in June from the ‘checkers’ or pens of fish,
and September 1914, the S. S. Kelly in July and despite the difficulty of handling
August 1914, and the Flamingo in March 1915.
heavy fish on a slippery deck. Care
He returned to Stanford University in early April,
23 “Captain Freeman says he has log and tally but was on the Chief Skugard from mid July to was likewise necessary that no cuts
sheets for ten years back ...1 am to remind him to mid August 1915. A winter trip aboard the Fla- were made which could injure the
get them when we get ashore.” W. F. Thompson mingo was made in December 1915 and early the
diary 5 March 1915 (aboard the S. S. Flamingo). following January. He then boarded the Andrew market value of the fish. As a result
“I am copying his log as fast as I get an oppor- Kelly in mid January 1916. J. B. Thompson, of these conditions it was possible
tunity.” W. F. Thompson diary 13 March 1915. manuscr.. II:1-26, (see footnote 1). See also the to examine less than a hundred fish
Files, International Pacific Halibut Commission, W. F. Thompson diaries for 1914-16, Interna-
Seattle, Wash. tional Pacific Halibut Commission, Seattle, Wash. in a day, save in exceptional cases
Marine Fisheries Review