ABSTRACT
Thomas Huxley was a biologist and anthropologist best known in his day as a strong proponent of evolution. Huxley was from a middle-class family that fell on hard times. As a consequence, his schooling was limited, and he was largely self-educated. Huxley’s advocacy for science and reason saw him create an enduring legacy by coining the term agnosticism to denote the distinction between what is knowable and what is not. He became an important figure in the rapid development of state education by advising on the content of school curricula. In 1881, he was appointed inspector of fisheries by the government, and it is in that context that he made this speech at the 1883 Fisheries Exhibition. The fishing industry being thus important and thus ancient, it is singular that it can hardly be said to have kept pace with the rapid improvement of almost every other branch of industrial occupation in modern times.
