By Craig Springer The parallel is too curious to be overlooked. James Henshall, M.D., had his home just a short walk away from his work in a Victorian two-story that still stands. There on the grounds at a national fish hatchery in Bozeman, Montana, Dr. Henshall hit his stride in the late 1800s - not practicing medicine - but directing fish culture operations as the superintendent of a fledgling federal hatchery. Henshall is probably best known as author of the classic Book of the Black Bass, which is still available at most any book store. Therein he posited about the "eminently American fish" and its behavioral traits: "the arrowy rush" of the "gamest fish that swims." He waxed poetic about smallmouth bass, and argued that the spotted bass did not exist as a distinct species. Henshall gave up a career as a medical doctor for distinguished work in conservation and fish culture. Today, modern fish culture and medicine again merge at the Bozeman station where Henshall once lived and worked.
The parallel is too curious to be overlooked. James Henshall, M.D.,had his home just a short walk away from his work in a Victorian two-storythat still stands. There on the grounds at a national fish hatchery inBozeman, Montana, Dr. Henshall hit his stride in the late 1800s - notpracticing medicine - but directing fish culture operations as thesuperintendent of a fledgling federal hatchery.
Henshall is probably best known as author of the classic Book of theBlack Bass, which is still available at most any book store. Therein heposited about the "eminently American fish" and its behavioral traits:"the arrowy rush" of the "gamest fish that swims." He waxed poetic aboutsmallmouth bass, and argued that the spotted bass did not exist as adistinct species. Henshall gave up a career as a medical doctor fordistinguished work in conservation and fish culture.
Today, modern fish culture and medicine again merge at the Bozemanstation where Henshall once lived and worked.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Aquatic Animal Drug ApprovalPartnership (AADAP) program is based there. This national program isdesigned to generate, compile, and manage much of the complex informationneeded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for one purpose - toget new aquatic animal drugs and theraputants on the market and in use. Nomatter if the drug is to be used for treating parasitic infection inlargemouth bass, gill disease in walleye, or bacterial infection in salmonand trout - fish you might find on the end of your line or under plastic atthe grocery - AADAP plays a major role in channeling that information tothe FDA.
It's an arduous process to get a new aquatic animal drug approved,and it can take years of research and millions of dollars. In somerespects, getting new drugs approved for fish and other aquatic animals ismore difficult than it is for people. Reason being, people eat fish andshellfish. New drugs must effectively target specific diseases anddisease-causing pathogens. They must also be manufactured at the highestquality, and be safe for the target species, the environment, and forpeople - and all such claims must be supported by solid scientific data.
"With any new animal drug that's been approved by the FDA, you knowit's met the gold standard," said Dr. Dave Erdahl, AADAP's director."Getting useful drugs and theraputants approved and into the hands offishery managers and fish culturists results in healthy fish, healthypeople, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy."
Recent examples of new drugs are worthy of note: The FDA approvedformalin for controlling external parasites in all species of fish. Thenew animal drug Chorulon enhances fish propagation - it's used to inducespawning, and has utility in endangered species conservation. OxyMarine isa new skeletal marking agent. With it, fishery biologists can quickly,safely, and with low cost, mark fish en masse so that they can moreeffectively assess fish populations. In fall of 2005, the FDA approvedAquaflor for catfish - the first new antibacterial drug approved in manyyears.
AADAP is a partnership; its scientists help coordinate the datagenerated from over 130 entities comprised of state and federal agencies,Native American Tribes, and private companies - all set on seeing newaquatic animal drugs approved.
The parallel continues. Henshall made a mark in fisheriesconservation, and certainly influenced the pursuit of what is todayAmerica's favorite game fish. AADAP's work resounds in fisheries managedfor public good or private gain. The science is manifest in the live-well,staving off extinctions, and even on your dinner plate.
Contact Info: Craig Springer may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Website : www.fws.gov/fisheries/aadap
