Fish and Aquatic Conservation (FAC) in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is the direct descendant of the U.S. Fish Commission, founded in 1871. In 2021, FAC marks its 150^th anniversary, the oldest conservation agency in history. To commemorate this milestone, U.S. F&W will publish a compelling history to celebrate the broad-thinking scientists, writers, and artists who led us through the gilded age of American ichthyology into the present day.

Craig Springer is a fish biologist and writer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and former editor of the agency's Eddies magazine. His writings on conservation, nature, and history have appeared in the New York Times, ESPN, Farmers' Almanac, TROUT, Sporting Classics, and Wild West and he has co-authored two books, Around Hillsboro and Spearfish National Fish Hatchery. He lives in Santa Fe County, New Mexico.