Series 166: Research cards on Mississippi Fish. 1930-1958. Game and Fish Commission (RG 78).

Note cards containing data on fish collected in Mississippi rivers, lakes and streams. The data indicate which species of fish were collected, the geographic area and location of the collection site, name of collector, date and the catalog number for each specimen. The cards are preceded by two indexes: one is arranged numerically and corresponds to a number located in the upper right-hand corner of each card; and the other index is alphabetical by scientific name of the fish. In addition, there is a listing on five cards of fish mounts, which indicates the catalog number, species and locality and date of collection for mounted fish specimens. A large number of the cards identify the specimen collector as the WPA (Works Progress Administration/Work Projects Administration) or Fannye A. Cook. Cook, a longtime Commission employee, lead the WPA Plant and Animal Survey Project, which was conducted in Mississippi from 1935-1941. The cards are arranged in numerical order.

Historical Note:

The "WPA (Works Progress Administration/Work Projects Administration) Plant and Animal Survey Project," conducted in Mississippi from 1935-1941 was a joint federal state project co-sponsored by the State Game and Fish Commission and several academic institutions under the technical supervision of Commission research assistant, Fannye A. Cook. The primary objective of the project, in addition to providing employment, was to make a statewide collection of representative species of vertebrates and flowering plants. Study was also made of species distribution and habitat. The specimens and data were used for educational purposes in lectures, exhibits and a variety of educational programs conducted by the conservation workers. The ultimate goal of the project was to produce survey bulletins for each class of vertebrates. Although not completed under the WPA, work on the bulletins began again as the "Mississippi 3-R" project, a joint state and federal venture between the Commission and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.