106 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



pects of our marine biologiccil work requiriiio- precise navigation right 

 down to almost the yai-d, the answer is that the fishing vessels are not 

 as efficient and in the long haul fishing vessels are not good vessels to 

 use for oceanogra])hic or marine biological work. They do not re- 

 place oceanographic vessels and we would hope that this is an interim 

 replacement. 



Mr. CuRTix. I got the impression from you that tlie Albafross was 

 seaworthy, is that true ? 



Mr. jMcKerxan. It is seaworthy at the present time; yes, sir. 



Mr. CuRTiN. I also got the impreSvsion that the power plant M'as 

 satisfactory. 



Mr. McKerxan. They are not in bad shape for their age. 



Mr. CuRTiN. Then is the inefficiency due to the equipment that is 

 now in the vessel ? 



Mr. McKernax. Well, the inefficiency in general is just due to the 

 age of the boat and the fact that the vessel was never designed to do 

 oceanographic and marine biological work and the fact that for most 

 of our work she is a little large; and all of these things combined 

 make her rather inefficient for the purposes that we need. 



Mr. CuRTix. How many years haA^e you used her for this purpose, 

 since you got her in 1948 ? 



Mr. McKerxax. She has been in actual operation for us for 11 

 years. 



Mr. Ci^RTix. Why did you just decide that she Avas not efficient? 



Mr. McKerxax. We did not decide tliat just now, Mr. Curtin. We 

 knew she was inefficient as general knov\-ledge baciv in 1054 or 1955. 

 Along in there I understand that it Avas recognized that she was in- 

 efficient and there Avere general plans laid at that time to consider the 

 construction of a new research boat. 



Mr. CuRTix. Has it cost $192,000 to operate it in any previous fiscal 

 year ? 



Mr. McKerxax. It cost $177,000 in 1957. 



Mr. CuRTix. That Avas the highest? 



Mr. McKerxax. That is the highest in the last 6 years. 



Mr. Miller. Just a minute, Mr. McKernan. Let us not mislead 

 anyone. 



Will you excuse me? 



Mr. CtiRTix. Surely. 



Mr. Miller. I Avas going to ask you some questions. 



In 1957 your shipyard repairs costs Avere $51,000, Avhicli AA-ere in 

 that $177,000. In 1950, vou spent $25,000, Avhicli made it $145,000 to 

 operate her, and in 1958 'you spent $24,000, Avhich made it $164,000. 



You are not trying to mislead us by telling us that this $177,000 Avas 

 the higli year Avhereas in that particuhir year you Inu'e about $25,000 

 above tlie average ship repair betAveen the years 1955 and noAv? 



Mr. McKerxax. That is correct. 



Mr. Miller. Then it cost you about actually $152,000, if you take 

 that extraordinary expense out, to operate her for that year; is that 

 correct ? 



Mr. McKerxax. That is right, but the total expense includes this 

 extra cost of repairs. 



Mr. Miller. What Avere those extra repairs \n that year? 



