John W. Salter, Sir William Logan, and Elkanah Billings: A Brief British Involvement in the First Decade of ‘Canadian Organic Remains’ (1859)

John W. Salter, paleontologist of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, and son-in-law of J. de C. Sowerby, was commissioned by Director William Logan to describe and illustrate Canadian fossils. The fossils were given to Salter in 1851 but publication did not take place until 1859. Decade I of Canadian Organic Remains by Salter was illustrated by steel engravings. This particular technology is virtually forgotten today, but despite difficulties in preparation eventually produced outstanding illustrations. Elkanah Billings, hired by Logan in 1856 as the first Canadian government palaeontologist, journeyed to Great Britain shortly after his appointment and studied with Salter. Billings produced the third Decade, but the first one to be published. Comparison of the Decades to similar publications of the times indicates that they accomplished Logan's goal of making Canadian fossils better known.