262 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



Certainly the Service needs new research vessels. Attempting to convert a 

 naval ship, except in an emergency, as a stopgap measure, would be too costly 

 and very unrewarding. But on second thought, does the Service need research 

 vessels at all? Or, indeed, is it equipped with the know-how to operate ocean- 

 going vessels? The largest and best equipped, yes, the only fully found deep 

 sea research vessel the Government owns is now being dismantled in Boston, 

 for lack of foresight. And this action is taking place at the very time men who 

 know, men of vision the world over are emphasizing the importance of undersea 

 research. Says the National Academy of Science, "a greatly expanded undersea 

 research program is needed." And, "ocean research is as important to us as 

 space research." "Deactivate the Albatross III," echoes the Fish and Wildlife 

 Service. 



Perhaps the All)at7-oss is too large a vessel for the Woods Hole Laboratory. 

 Perhaps an 80-foot inshore trawler will meet their requirements. If so, the 

 Albatross should be operated as an oceangoing research vessel at large, to be 

 put at the disposal of any laboratory on the Atlantic or gulf or Pacitic coast, 

 Alaska, or anywhere else that a properly oriented program can justify her use. 



Perhaps a whole new research program should be built around the Albatross 

 III to utilize her exceptional facilities, extended cruising range and experienced 

 crew. She should be made available for specific types of offshore research in any 

 area of the world. Certainly she should not be taken out of service. 



The Service proposes to use fishing vessel charters wherever necessary to 

 augment the work of the Delaware. This has been the policy in the past, even 

 when the Albatross was operating. In an effort to save money, this way, the 

 Service accepted bids from the boatowners and invariably the boats quoting the 

 lowest prices were those that were either unsuccessful for fishing, or laid up 

 with engine trouble, or at best, were the lowest of the lowly craft. As a result, 

 the research biologists have been sent to sea in inferior boats, not at all repre- 

 sentative of the commercial fishing fleet. And it is a known fact that the best 

 of the boats do not meet the minimum standards for lifesaving equipment, 

 manning or seaworthiness as set up by the U.S. Coast Guard. In addition, 

 the facilities offered our biologists in the way of accommodations and research 

 equipment are inadequate. One gear and equipment specialist reported he had 

 to sleep on the lower shelf of a food locker on one chartered vessel. 



The fishing vessel Dartmouth, chartered for scalloping, found it was losing 

 money on the charter, so requested permission to fish commercially, at night 

 when the scientists were not working. This request was granted. The Dart- 

 mouth crew cast aside the Fish and Wildlife Service scallop dredges, stating 

 that they were rigged wrong and did not fish well. They rigged up their own 

 gear and used it. The expressed purpose in using the Dartmouth on this 

 project was that a typical commercial scalloper was needed to give the scientist 

 an authentic sample <>f scallops and scalloping operations. It has been in- 

 ferred by the Fish and Wildlife Service project leader that the Albatross wa? 

 too large for the work and would not produce realistic results. Fishermen 

 contend that, using the proper gear, the Albatross would be ideal for the work. 



Because they are small and ill equipped for research and above all, uncerti- 

 fied by the U.S. Coast Guard, the commercial fishing boast are often held in 

 port by the weather, thus tying up the time of several biologists, awaiting better 

 conditions. Even under ideal weather conditions, such boats are uncomfort- 

 able, so it is questionable if the scientists can accomplish as much work as they 

 would on the Albatross. 



If a commercial vessel is in good condition, such as a well found Hiliner, 

 fishing regularly with an experienced crew, it can ill afford to accept a charter 

 from the Fish and Wildlife Service. They are earning too much money on 

 their own. 



It is in fact, false economy to lay up the Albatross III. It is possible that 

 what is needed at this time is a complete and thorough investigation of man- 

 agement operations of all of the Service vessels. A research biologist should 

 not be expected to be an expert out of his own field. He has had no marine 

 education or experience required to operate a vessel, manage its schedule, or 

 to understand the problems— fishing and .shipping. Responsibility for research 

 vessels for each r(>gion should be segregated under an authority completely 

 separated from laboratory administration. If the maintennnce. provisioning, 

 manning, and budgeting of vessel operations were put in ihaige of a competent 

 marine superintendent charged with koei)ing the vessels in shape and ready to 

 meet the work schedules required by the various laboratories, then there would 

 be no occasion to call the Albatross III "a .$175,000 headache." Operating a 



