Kenneth Arthur Pyefinch

Kenneth Arthur Pyefinch, MA, FRSE (1911–1979) was a 20th-century British zoologist and freshwater biologist. As its first Officer in Charge, he led the development of the Brown Trout Research Laboratory in Pitlochry into its establishment as the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory with a national and international reputation for research.

Early life Pyefinch was born in Kingston upon Hull on 10 January 1911, the elder child of Arthur Edward Hare Pyefinch (1877–1947). and Ellen Susannah (née Roberts). Pyefinch was educated at Hull Grammar School 1919 to 1924 then Pocklington School in Yorkshire 1924 to 1930.

Over this period his interests were in the morphology of parasitic crustacea, particularly the Cirripedia and Ascothororacica. He spent some time studying marine ecology on Bardsey Island in North Wales; he identified two new species of Ascothororacica: Baccalaureus Maldivensis Pyefinch (1934) and Baccalaureus Nexapus Pyefinch (1936)

Initially part-time in 1942 and then full-time in 1943, he joined a team undertaking research for the Iron and Steel Institute (subsequently the British Iron and Steel Research Association) into the biology of marine organisms, the mechanisms of their attachment and methods used to assess the effectiveness of anti fouling paints – work of particular importance for naval vessels at that time. He became head of the anti fouling section of BISRA in 1946 During these 10 years, under his leadership, the laboratory had grown from 6 members of staff in temporary quarters in the gunroom at Faskally House to a workforce of 20 in purpose built and other accommodation. By the time he retired in 1973 staff numbered almost 60 and the importance of its work was widely recognised.

Pyefinch also represented the interests of Scottish fisheries research on a number of bodies:

Some of his publications are listed below. Particularly notable is Trout in Scotland, an account of the work of the first ten years of the work of the laboratory in Pitlochry (reviewed in the New Scientist June 1960 ). A Review of the Literature on the Biology of the Atlantic Salmon demonstrates his detailed knowledge of the general bibliography of Atlantic salmon; his enthusiastic acquisition of books and reprints contributed greatly to the development of the library at Faskally.

Publications Pyefinch, K. A., The fresh and brackish waters of Bardsey Island North Wales: A chemical and faunistic survey. Journal of Animal Ecology 6. 115–137. Pyefinch, K. A., The intertidal ecology of Bardsey Island North Wales with special reference to the recolonisation of rock surfaces and the rock pool environment. Journal of Animal Ecology. 1943 Pyefinch, K. A., and Mott, J.C., The sensitivity of barnacles and their larvae to copper and mercury. Journal of Experimental Biology, 25, 276–298. 1948 Pyefinch K. A., Methods of identification of the larvae of Balanus balanoides (L.), B. crenatus Brug. and Verruca stroemia. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 1948 Pyefinch K. A., Notes on the biology of Cirripedes. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 1948. Pyefinch, K.A., and Woodward, W. B. The movements of salmon tagged in the sea: Montrose, 1948, 1950, 1951. Scottish Home Department. 1955 Pyefinch, K.A., Geographical variation in the Atlantic salmon. Nature. 1955 Pyefinch, K. A., Trout in Scotland, a story of brown trout research at Pitlochry. HMSO. 1960 Pyefinch, K. A., and Mills, D. H., Observations on the movement of Atlantic salmon in the River Conon and the River Meig Ross-shire. Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries Research. 1963. Pyefinch, K. A., and Elson, K. R., Salmon disease in Irish rivers. Scottish Fisheries Bulletin 26. 21–3. 1967.

Personal life Pyefinch took a keen interest in meteorology, railways and cricket.

In 1940, Pyefinch married Kate Madeleine Price, in Nottingham.

In 1950, Pyefinch married Agnes Elizabeth Sharp, botanist, in Perth. They have four daughters, Peggy, Barbara, Ann, and Sarah.