OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 251 



I have made every trip on the Albatross since August 1956. My 

 job is to assist all the biologists with what they do, whether it is tag- 

 ging fish, putting out television gear, or making BT's anything like 

 that I do. I have a little statement here, maybe some of the other 

 boys have stolen my thunder, but I will give it to you anyway. 



Gentlemen, the reasons are numerous for having research vessels 

 as well as other vessels engaged in oceanographic work. Other coun- 

 tries have vessels built for research alone, and why not the United 

 States, the greatest country in the world. We have a fishing boat^ 

 30 years old, and that is the only research boat on the east coast, a 

 boat built for fishing. 



However, the fishing boats which you may charter have neither the 

 space nor accommodations to carr}^ on oceanographic work. The Al- 

 batross was a fishing boat, but it was rebuilt for the Oceanographic 

 Institute and Fish and Wildlife Service. As to accommodations, it 

 can handle 10 scientists. It has a wet laboratoi-y and it has a di-y lab 

 where the scientists can sit down and analj^zethe data or just read or 

 listen to the radio. Some of these other boats, fishing boats, there is 

 only one place where you can sit down, in tlie galley or your bunk. The 

 Albatross also had two wing platforms with gear for taking BT's,^ 

 one on each side of the pilothouse where you could choose the leeward 

 side for protection from the wind and spray. One man can do this 

 job on the Albatross, whereas it would take two men on other vessels. 

 Back aft there is storage for your gear. On the Albatross there is a 

 bunk and a private head for the master. 



Scientific personnel on the Albatross have cabins amidships which 

 hold 10 men, and they have their own private head and shower, two 

 mess tables, one for the officers and the biologists and one for the men 

 in the crew. Contrast this with fishing boats which have one shower, 

 no mess table, poor accommodations for the biologists near the main 

 engine, full of the smell of diesel oil. Some biologists do not have 

 very good sea legs, and they really need better accommodations. If 

 you gentlemen who hold the purse strings could do it, we would like to 

 have a new vessel, but until that time comes we would like to have the 

 Albatross put back in service. 



Congressman Oliver. Let's say we do hold the purse strings, but 

 many others hold them, too. Are you through with your statement? 



Mr. NiCKERSox. Yes, sir. 



Chairman Miller. I do want to say we on this committee feel there 

 is more need for money for research, and you are in sympathetic 

 hands on that score. I notice in the testimony Mr. McKernan gave us 

 in Washington, he was talking about converting ships, and he says for 

 oceanographic purposes it became a little bit difficult to get the con- 

 versions made in such a way that it would be a good job for research 

 efficiency. The Albatross has already been converted, has it not? 



Mr. Marak. It is already fitted out. 



Chairman Miller. On what you tell us, you qualify as something 

 of an expert on the conversion difficulty ; is that right 1 



Mr. NicKERSON. Well, I have been out on numerous fishing vessels. 

 I have been on every trip the Albatross made since I have been with 

 them. 



Chairman Miller. But you feel the Albatross is already equipped 

 for oceanographic work ? 



88170—59 17 



