A science on the scales : the rise of Canadian Atlantic fisheries biology, 1898-1939 / Jennifer M. Hubbard.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

An original and timely work, A Science on the Scales shines a light on a heretofore-neglected aspect of Canada's science history .

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CHOICE Review

As someone with formal training in ecology rather than history, this reviewer cannot judge this book's historical rigor. However, for someone who has frequently worked on fisheries problems, Hubbard's history of the development of Canada's Atlantic fisheries science program rings true. The uninitiated generally do not realize the large role that individual personalities, politics, and luck play in the advancement of science and its institutions. This well-written work provides a realistic view into the social side of science. Hubbard (history, Ryerson Univ.) also describes how fisheries science became a distinct discipline within Western science. Although focused on the development of marine biology laboratories and fisheries research in eastern Canada, this book discusses the interactions that occurred among scientists from Canada and their counterparts from the British Isles and the US during the first half of the 20th century; this approach gives the narrative a broader scope. In a few instances, the biological information presented is inexact; however, these minor blemishes do not detract from the history. This book will be most useful for individuals considering entry into science as a career and for those who want to understand why scientific progress depends so greatly on societal support. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; general readers. S. R. Fegley Maine Maritime Academy