[1] After the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, Brice joined the United States Navy as a volunteer officer with the rank of acting master's mate on 23 August 1861.

[2] During a cutting-out expedition[2] in Mattox Creek in Virginia that took place from March 16 to 18, 1865, Brice – by then promoted to acting ensign – led a 40-man search party that found itself in combat with a force of about 50 Confederate cavalrymen.

[3] While he was deploying his men to receive their attack, eight or ten cavalrymen fell upon on his left flank, but he drove them off, prompting the rest of the Confederate force to retreat.

[2] Promoted to lieutenant on March 21, 1870, he had duty at the United States Hydrographic Office that year, then served aboard the gunboat USS Saco in the European Squadron from 1870 to 1872.

[5] Promoted to lieutenant commander on April 15, 1882, Brice returned to the Mare Island Navy Yard for duty from 1882 to 1885, then was aboard the screw sloop-of-war USS Iroquois in the Pacific Squadron from 1885 to 1888.

[8] Brice began duty as a lighthouse inspector in December 1892, then assumed command of the screw gunboat USS Adams in March 1894.

Fish Commission's chief clerk, Herbert A. Gill, took charge as acting commissioner until McDonald's permanent replacement could be found.

[12] By mid-1897, salmon egg production had tripled over that of previous years, and the Fish Commission also had made good progress in its efforts to support the lobster, mackerel and American shad fisheries.

[14] In 1898, President William McKinley appointed George Meade Bowers, a banker and politician from West Virginia, to replace Brice as commissioner.