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jan./mar. 2009
George Sprague Myers (1905 – 1985) e a ictiologia no Brasil
Dear George:
Henry Allen Moe has just paid us a visit, and I think I have completed the pre-
liminary arrangements for granting you a Guggenheim Fellowship for a year in
Brazil. Moe had a request from the Rio museum for a Guggenheim ichthyologist
and wanted suggestions. I gave your name – well known to him – as first choice,
and Gosline as No. 2. [Refere-se a William A. Gosline]. He beamed clear across
his broad face when I read him the paragraph of your letter re a Guggenheim
fellowship. He said he would write you immediately on his return to New York
Sincerely yours,
Carl L. Hubbs
Curator of Fishes”
Convém assinalar que George Sprague Myers escreveu um necro-
lógio de Alípio de Miranda-Ribeiro [ver Copeia, Washington, 1939 (3)
: 184].
Esboço biográfico
spent sizable periods in the field, especially in South America. The qual-
ity of Myers analytical skills is well exhibited in his classic 1938 paper
“Fresh-water Fishes and West Indian Zoogeography”. (Copyright 2005
by Charles H. Smith).
George Sprague Myers (FIGURE 1) nasceu em 2 de fevereiro de
1905 em Jersey City (New Jersey – United States of America) e morreu
em 4 de novembro de 1985 no Scotts Valley – Santa Cruz County (Cali-
fornia – United States of America). Bacharel (1930), mestre (1931) e
doutor (1933) pela Stanford University.
Cronologia de suas atividades docentes, de pesquisa e editoriais:
assistente voluntário no American Museum of Natural History (1922 –
1924); assistente da curadoria na Indiana University (1924 – 1926); editor
associado do The Aquarium Journal (1932 – 1960); curador assistente
da Divisão de Peixes (U. S. National Museum ( 1933 – 1936); professor
associado de Biologia na Stanford University (1936 – 1938); professor
de Biologia na Stanford University (1938 – 1970); editor do Stanford
Ichthyological Bulletin (1938 – 1967); professor visitante de Ictiologia
no Museu Nacional (Rio de Janeiro – Brasil) (1942 – 1944); professor
visitante de Ictiologia e Zoologia na Harvard University (1970 – 1972).
Presidiu a American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (1949
– 1951). Aposentou-se por limite de idade na Stanford University em
1970.
Entre 1920 – 1969 publicou 603 trabalhos, muitos deles sobre peixes
do Brasil, o primeiro destes em 1924 (MYERS, 1970).
Filho de Harvey Derwood Myers e Lily Vale Sprague Myers. Casou-
se com Marth Ruth Frisinger (1926), com a qual teve seus dois filhos
– Thomas Sprague Myers (1935) e John William Myers (1937). Após o
divórcio, entre o final dos anos 1950’ e o início da década seguinte, casou-
se com Irma Zimmerman. Entre 1966 – 1985 esteve casado com Frances
E. Felin – ela morreu em 1º de agosto de 1985.
Obtenção da bolsa
I HEREBY CERTIFY, that Dr. George Sprague Myers, Director of the Nat-
ural History Museum in Stanford University, California, is being assisted by this
Committee out of funds available through the Coordinator of Inter-American
Affairs to go to Brazil for a period of approximately one year from late in June,
1942. The circumstances of Dr. Myers’ going are these: This Committee was re-
quested by Dr. Heloisa Alberto Torres, Director of the National Museum of Bra-
zil located in Rio de Janeiro, to assist the development of the science of ichthyol-
ogy in Brazil by sending to Brazil a North American ichthyologist to assist in the
training of Brazilian scholars in this field – his work to be done in collaboration
with National Museum of Brazil and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. Dr.
Torres indicated that her first choice for this assignment was Dr. Myers and in
view of Dr. Myers’ high standing as a scholar and his qualities as a person we
were glad to respond affirmatively to her request.
Impressões iniciais
of the interior river basins. It will be evident that the most important ar-
eas, to Brazilians, are those of the greatest density of population, and the
fishes of these areas are among the least known in Brazil. My own feeling
is that another year or six months, beyond my first year, would be neces-
sary to complete the most important things Donna Heloisa wants done,
but that another trip down here, in two or three years, would be far more
effective than a long extension of my present stay. At that time the situa-
tion in the fish department would presumably be cleared up and wartime
restrictions would no longer be in force.
Em carta de 4 de outubro de 1942, firmada por George Sprague
Myers e dirigida a Henry Allen Moe, ele reafirmou as dificuldades acima
expostas, mas reconhece a excelente cooperação que estava recebendo do
Governo Federal, do Estado de São Paulo e dos serviços de pesca existen-
tes na região nordestina, “all engaged in fish work connected directly with
economic use and conservation of fisheries resources.”
Formação de pessoal
Houve cuidadoso preparo para a efetivação do curso sobre “Sistemá-
tica Geral de Peixes e Biologia da Pesca” (FIGURA 2), a ser ministrado
por George Sprague Myers, no Museu Nacional. Foram expedidos co-
municados/convites a dezenas de instituições públicas brasileiras, inte-
ressadas nos assuntos a serem ensinados.
O curso teria a duração máxima de dois meses, seguindo-se trabalhos
de campo e de laboratório, para consolidação dos ensinamentos teóricos.
As aulas se iniciaram em 15 de março e se prolongaram até 15 de maio
de 1943, com alunos procedentes das seguintes instituições: Ministério da
Agricultura – Divisão de Caça e Pesca, Divisão de Geologia e Minera-
logia, Escola Nacional de Veterinária; Ministério da Educação e Saúde
– Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Museu Nacional; Ministério da Guerra – Di-
retoria de Remonta e Veterinária; Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas
– Comissão Técnica de Piscicultura; Prefeitura do Distrito Federal – De-
partamento de Educação Técnico-Profissional; Secretaria de Agricultura
do Estado do Rio de Janeiro – Divisão de Caça e Pesca; Secretaria de
Viagens científicas
Recursos Pesqueiros
matter. They
������������������������������������������������������������
seem to need a fish man and a few weeks ago Kenneth Ka-
dow, chief of the U. S. section of the Brazilian–American Food Supply
Commission, offered to take me on following the termination of my year
with your committee, provided he could get my appointment approved in
Washington, and obtain the requisite leave of absence from the Univer-
sity.”
A intenção de tal colaboração era a de se fazer um levantamento dos
recursos pesqueiros do Brasil, nos seus aspectos biológicos e econômi-
cos. Tendo em vista o novo projeto, a diretora do Museu Nacional espe-
rava contar com pessoal especializado e estava contratando diretamente o
Dr. William A. Gosline, “a studente of mine who is the only young fellow
available in North or South America who is a fishery biologist and at the
same time has specialized in Amazonian fishes.”
Na carta de 13 de junho de 1943, George Sprague Myers comunicou
a Henry Allen Moe: “Brazil is now very much at war and all of the Brazil-
ian fisheries agencies have asked that I remain in Brazil as long as I pos-
sibly can to help in the wartime fisheries problems that are confronting
them and to aid in training Brazilian fish men.” (…) “The need for help
and training of people in fisheries work here is great – not only Museu
people, but also people in other official agencies.”
Após preparar um esboço de planejamento para o levantamento dos
recursos pesqueiros do Brasil, entregue à consideração de Heloísa Alberto
Torres, informou que necessitava contar com o trabalho de dois técnicos
norte-americanos, jovens e competentes, Dr. Joseph Bayley e Dr. William
A. Gosline, para a sua implementação, naturalmente com a participação
de cientistas e técnicos brasileiros.
Acrescentou: ... “if the things works out, I will have to stay here for
at least one year more, may be two, to see it through.” (…) “The Brazilian
fisheries are capable of supporting a much bigger demand than they do
now, but the biological bases for expansion are unknown and the neces-
sary regulations designed to keep the industry at top production without
ruining the resource cannot be drawn up until we have a background of
biological information to go on.”
Relações humanas
Um dos objetivos da vinda de George Sprague Myers ao Brasil foi o
de estreitar amizade com cientistas brasileiros. Isto ele cumpriu de forma
exemplar.
No Museu Nacional, o melhor dos seus amigos foi José Lacerda de
Final da Missão
Museu Nacional
Ministério da Guerra
Diretoria de Remonta e Veterinária
Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas
Comissão Técnica de Piscicultura
Prefeitura do Distrito Federal
Departamento de Educação Técnico-Profissional
Secretaria de Agricultura do Est. do Rio de Janeiro
Divisão de Caça e Pesca
Secretaria de Agricultura do Est. de São Paulo
Departamento de Zoologia
Divisão de Proteção e Produção de Peixes e Animais Silvestres
Secretaria de Educação do Est. de São Paulo
Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras
Secretaria de Educação do Est. do Pará
Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi
Faculdade de Medicina de Assunción (Paraguai)
The notes and sketches taken in class are being mimeographed for
distribution. They form an eighty page booklet covering topics which
are scattered in most cases in publications difficult to obtain. Besides the
matter given in the course it contains the basic bibliography on general
classification of fishes and in separate on Brazilian fishes. Some copies
will be sent to you as soon as they are available.
Upon the closing of Doctor Myers’ course, the Director of the Museu
Nacional addressed himself to the Director of the official departments
most intimately connected with ichthyological matters to inquire about
the profits derived from the course and also about their interest in having
Doctor Myers’ permanence assured for a longer period in Brazil. Trans-
lations of some of the answers are enclosed (Nos. 2 to 10). I would like
you to grant special attention to the letter of Ministro João Alberto Lins
de Barros (No. 9), Coordenador da Mobilização Econômica, to whose
Sector de Pesca Doctor Myers has given assistance. The coordenação has
entrusted to the Museu Nacional the preliminary work of biological and
Doctor Myers has, besides, devoted a great part of his time to the
reading and criticizing of several manuscripts on zoological subjects that
have been submitted to him by authors.
As Curator of the Zoological Collection of the Stanford Natural His-
tory Museum, Doctor Myers has a widespread knowledge of modern me-
thods of museography, therefore I frequently resort to him for advice in
the study of different problems and I find his judgments and suggestions
are invariably helpful and wise. Furthermore, his cooperative qualities
prompt him into offering his spontaneous criticism and suggestions on
several problems he happened to meet with.
Such is the assistance that has been given by Doctor Myers to this
Museum and to the person who accepted the responsibility of reorgani-
zing a one hundred and twenty four year old institute, which notwithstan-
ding the various hardships it has gone through during its existence, is still
carrying high its honourable tradition.
Rio de Janeiro
July 28, 1943
Heloisa Alberto Torres
Director
Comparando-se as datas acima, vê-se que George Sprague
Myers permaneceu no Brasil durante dois anos, em vez de
apenas um, como inicialmente foi planejado. O ofício e seu
anexo devem ter servido para apoiar desejada prorrogação da
bolsa de estudos no Brasil.
Ictiologia brasileira
Desde 1924 George Sprague Myers vinha publicando trabalhos sobre os
peixes do Brasil (MYERS, 1970), comprovando o seu permanente interesse
pelo desenvolvimento da ictiologia brasileira.
Não pretendo relacionar as dezenas de títulos da sua bibliografia, referentes
ao Brasil, mas quero aqui destacar a série sobre os peixes da Amazônia, pela
originalidade da abordagem e importância científica.
– Myers, G. S. – 1947 – The Amazon and Its Fishes – Part I. The River. The
Aquarium Journal, San Francisco, 18 (3) : 4 – 9, 3 figs,
– Myers, G. S. – 1947 – The Amazon and Its Fishes – Part 2. The Fishes. The
Aquarium Journal, San Francisco, 18 (4) : 13 – 20, [2] figs.
– Myers, G. S. – 1947 – The Amazon and Its Fishes – Part 3. Amazonian
Aquarium Fishes. The Aquarium Journal, San Francisco, 18 (5) : 6 – 13 +
32, [3] figs.
– Myers, G. S. – 1947 – The Amazon and Its Fishes – Part 4. The Fish in its
Environment. The Aquarium Journal, San Francisco, 18 (7) : 8 – 19 + 34, 6
figs.
– Myers, G. S. – 1949 – The Amazon and Its Fishes – Part V. A Monograph
on the Piranha. The Aquarium Journal, San Francisco, 20 (2) : 52 – 61, 1 – 4
figs,; 20 (3) : 76 – 85, 5 – 7 figs.
– Myers, G . S. (ed..) – 1972 – The Piranha Book. T. F. H. Publications, Inc.
Ltda., 128 pp., ilus., Nepture City.
Considerações finais
Agradecimentos
Referências bibliográficas
ADLER, K. (ed.) – 1989 – Contributions to the History of Herpetology.
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 202 pp., illus., Oxford
(Ohio). Nota sobre George Sprague Myers : 113 – 114, [1] fig.
COHEN, D. M. & WEITZMAN, S. H. – 1986 – George Sprague Myers
(1905 – 1985). Copeia, Washington, 1986 (3) : 851 – 853, [1] fig.
LEVITON, A. E., REGNERY, D. C. & THOMAS, J. H. – 1986 – Memorial
Resolution: George Sprague Myers (1905 – 1985). The Stanford University
Campus Report, Stanford, (6 April) : [1 – 4].
MYERS, G. S. – 1970 – Annotated chronological bibliography of the
publications of George Sprague Myers (to the end of 1969). (Festschrift for
George Sprague Myers). Proceedings of the California Academy od Sciences,
San Francisco, 38 (2) : 19 – 52.