The great Albatross Philippine Expedition and its fishes
Smith, D.G.; Williams, J.T. (1999). The great Albatross Philippine Expedition and its fishes. Mar. Fish. Rev. 61(4): 31-41
In: Marine Fisheries Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Seattle, Wash.. ISSN 0090-1830; e-ISSN 1939-2044, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Smith, D.G.
- Williams, J.T.
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| Abstract |
The Philippine Expedition of 1907-10 was the longest and most extensive assignment of the Albatross's 39-year career. It came about because the United States had acquired the Philippines following the Spanish-American War of 1898 and the bloody Philippine Insurrection of 1899-1902. The purpose of the expedition was to survey and assess the aquatic resources of the Philippine Islands. Dr. Hugh M. Smith, then Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, was the Director of the Expedition. Other scientific participants were Frederick M. Chamberlain, Lewis Radcliffe, Paul Bartsch, Harry C. Fasset, Clarence Wells, Albert Burrows, Alvin Seale, and Roy Chapman Andrews. The expedition consisted of a series of cruises, each beginning and ending in Manila and exploring a different part of the island group. In addition to the Philippines proper, the ship also explored parts of the Dutch East Indies and areas around Hong Kong and Taiwan. The expedition returned great quantities of fish and invertebrate specimens as well as hydrographic and fisheries data; most of the material was eventually deposited in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. The fishes were formally accessioned into the museum in 1922 and fell under the care of Barton A. Bean, Assistant Curator of Fishes, who then recruited Henry W. Fowler to work up the material. Fowler completed his studies of the entire collection, but only part of it was ever published, due in part to the economic constraints caused by the Depression. The material from the Philippine Expedition constituted the largest single accession of fishes ever received by the museum. These specimens are in good condition today and are still being used in scientific research. |
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