Gerald Stokell

Gerald Stokell (20 June 1890 - 10 July 1972) was a New Zealand horticulturist and ichthyologist.

Early life

Stokell was born at Prebbleton, near Christchurch, New Zealand, on 20 June 1890 to Edmund Stokell and Jane (Née Pasche), and he lived there for his whole life. He attended Broadfields Primary School, and was a keen trout angler.

Interest in freshwater fish

Gerald became concerned about the declining condition of trout in Lake Ellesmere, and in 1928 published papers about this. In 1936 he published studies of trout parasites, and for the rest of his life produced papers on salmonid fishes.

Stokell's main interest became New Zealand’s endemic freshwater fishes, discovering that little had been published on them. From 1938 he wrote many papers, describing new species and bringing order to the existing taxonomy. Most of his descriptions of new species still stand today.

Memberships

* Council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society
* Staff of the Canterbury Museum
* Secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand

An outspoken man of strong principles, he parted company with the Acclimatisation Society stating:

"Their sole qualification for safe-guarding the welfare of wild creatures [is] the possession of a desire to kill them."

He declined an offer to become a fellow of the Royal Society because he felt that the Canterbury branch had let him down. Although, through disputes, he had to alternate between scientific journals to have his work published, his work was notable. He became the acknowledged expert on New Zealand freshwater fish in the mid-20th century.

Stokell's smelt, "Stokellia anisodon", was named after Gerald Stokell in 1941.

Death

Stokell died 10 July 1972 in Christchurch, and he was buried in the family plot at Broadfields–Shands Road Cemetery with an engraving of a freshwater fish on his tombstone.

Bibliography

* "Freshwater fishes of New Zealand", 1955
* "Freshwater and diadromous fishes of New Zealand", 1972

References

* McDowall, R. M. 'Stokell, Gerald 1890 - 1972'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007 [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/]