It is in the blood? (1) (July-September, 1875

Results of the biological expedition]

The rector Karl Fedorovich Kessler, the student Oskar Andréievich Grimm, the professor Nikolai Petrovich Wagner, and the enthusiast-naturalist Vladimir Dmitrievich Alenitsyn met again with the Emperor Alexander III. After 2 years of study of the various species and ecosystems of the Russian Empire from the Caspian to the Pacific Ocean.

"Well? How did it go?" Emperor Alexander III asked simply.

"We have a theory that could confirm the usefulness of anti-hunting laws." Rector Karl Fedorovich Kessler responds, bringing some notes and reports prepared by the quartet.

The studies of the group of Kessler, Grimm, Wagner and Alenitsyn turned out to be the base for the studies of the trophic web (from the Greek, relative to feeding or feeding) or food chain. Which refers to the food chains within an ecological community (who eats whom or how X obtains food-energy).

With the publication of the studies (sponsored by the government and published by the Ministry of Education and Russian scientific associations) the ideas of the quartet became popular, giving some support to the laws against hunting and preservation sites of Russian fauna.

Some early environmentalists emerged in the Russian Empire, including Grimm and Alenitsyn themselves.

But still the Emperor Alexander III had some plans for the scientific quartet.

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[Kessler and the observer program]

Although the rector Karl Fedorovich Kessler (1815-1881) could resume his work at the University of Saint Petersburg, he received funds for the creation of many groups for the observation of the native fauna of Russia.

Thus controlling (to a certain extent, limited by the technology of the time) the state of animal populations and the state of the ecosystem.

Such groups would also help provide more biological or geological information about local ecosystems, useful information for urban-rural expansion projects.

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[Wagner and the domestication program]

"Excuse me?" Professor Wagner asked somewhat confused when the idea was proposed to him.

"I imagine you know what artificial selection is." Emperor Alexander III says.

"Of course. But ... it has never been done in foxes, not that I refuse but. What traits are desirable in this case?" Professor Wagner mentions.

"Well, those who are more submissive or less fearful of the human species, and those who are more loyal or willing to follow orders." Tsar Alexander III mentions. "In particular, he thinks about how domestic dogs are raised." The emperor exemplifies.

"... I can try. But don't expect immediate results." Professor Wagner responds.

Professor Nikolai Petrovich Wagner (1829-1907) received a particular station for the study of the breeding and domestication of foxes, mainly the silver black fox. But in parallel in the Kholadya archipelago an identical station was created for the breeding of arctic foxes (Wagner was also the leader of this station but in essence it was autonomous due to the distance and other responsibilities of Wagner).

The basis of the experiment was simple: A long-term experiment where the individuals most accommodating to human presence and interaction would be reproduced.

An interesting experiment but one that would take decades to bear fruit.

Why was Wagner chosen for the project? Because he had previously done work on selecting the best traits in certain animals, it certainly wasn't on foxes, but at least he had some idea where to go with specifications and budget.

In addition, the fox breeding project added to the Russian presence in Khodlaya since there was one of the breeding stations (that of the Arctic fox).

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[Grimm and Alenitsyn and the fish farming and agriculture program]

Oskar Andréievich Grimm (1845-1921) and Vladimir Dmitrievich Alenitsyn (1846-1910), the youngest of the Russian biological expedition of 1873-1875 entered the civil service as conventionally as Professor Kessler.

Emperor Alexander III offered young people a job in projects in the Russian agro-industrial sector, fish farming and the production of crops of various kinds.

Grimm became an authority on fish farming in the following years, with in-depth studies on fish and their environment (in addition to their reproduction, nutritional value, how to raise them, etc).

Being sent to review the growing fish farming industry in Russia, he being responsible for many growing fish farms in the Far East, Alyaska and other waters of Russia.

He ensured a certain quality standard regarding the production of fish for human consumption in Russia, which he exploited mostly between the mid-1880s and the 1900s.

Alenitsyn for his part went more for the artificial selection of crops to improve their resistance to climatic conditions and increase their productivity.

Caring for ecosystems by advocating for laws against the introduction of invasive species.

And a forerunner in scientific studies (always looking for an original and different way to gain new knowledge or address scientific issues) in the study of the ecosystems of Russia.

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[Sports culture]

Four other teams are chosen for the Round of 16 of the second edition of the Russian Soccer League.

* Arkhangelsk: One of the two finalist teams from the first edition returns for a rematch.

* Murmansk: One of the four semi-finalists of the first edition of the Russian Soccer League.

* Saint Petersburg: The team from the capital returns for the second edition.

* Kovno: The team of the city of Kovno (from the city of the same name), a Lithuanian-Slavic team supported by the Lithuanian gentry and Lithuanian-Slavic industrialists.

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[International]

On August 25, Matthew Webb became the first to swim across the English Channel without help or artificial equipment, as a sport.

A murder conviction on September 1 begins to lead the American struggle into the secret society Molly Maguires created by Irish-Americans.

September 7, an Egyptian invasion led by Werner Munzinger (of Swiss origin) into Ethiopia fails before the victory of the Emperor of Ethiopia Yohannes IV.

On the Western European war fronts, things are pretty static for the next 6 months (from July to December