John Nathan Cobb the preeminent fishery scientist of the Pacific Northwest for nearly 40 years. Thompson had offices in the College of Fisheries where, since 1925, he was Director of the International Fisheries Commission (now International Pacific Halibut Commission) charged with the management of, and research on, the Pacific halibut, "Hippoglossus stenolepis", fishery. A Ph.D. from Stanford University, Thompson was appointed Research Professor and Director of the new department on a part-time basis, as he remained Director of the International Fisheries Commission. He remained Director of the School until 1947 when he resigned to establish and head the UW's new Fisheries Research Institute.
Farrell Flat not officially become Farrell Flat until 19 September 1940. The name Farrell’s Flat had been in use for some time, this being the name of the railway station. The nearby town of Davies was officially renamed to Hanson on 19 September 1940. Farrell Flat was named for Colonial Chaplain and Dean of Adelaide, James Farrell (26 November 1803 – 26 April 1869). Farrell Flat Farrell Flat (formerly Hanson) is a town in South Australia. The town is located east of Clare and southwest of Burra on the former Peterborough railway line, in the Regional Council of Goyder. At the 2006