A Report to the President From the National Council 

 on Marine Resources and Engineering Development, 

 February 1968 



INTRODUCTION 



America's involvement with the sea began when maritime explorers from 

 Europe discovered and settled this new land. America's utilization of the sea 

 began soon after. Our history reveals cycles of maritime interest and apathy, 

 and today we are re-examining our stake in the oceans in a new context of 

 modern science and technology. 



The early seaboard colonies, with a hostile wilderness to their backs, de- 

 pended for survival on a thread of logistic support 3,000 miles long. As a 

 consequence, this Nation's founding fathers recognized the importance both 

 of the concept of the freedom of the seas and of the necessity for expanding 

 maritime programs and policies. 



In the 19th Century we began to explore and develop a continent. Steam 

 power replaced sail ; the railroads replaced the pony express ; and the people 

 turned their attention to the opening of the West, strictly a land frontier. 

 Interest in the oceans declined. 



Only in the 20th Century, as the United States became a great world 

 power, did the importance of the surrounding oceans and of seapower once 

 again become evident. Two world wars demonstrated to the United States 

 that it must have both a strong Navy and merchant fleet. 



Since World War II, the Nation has become increasingly aware of the 

 geography of economic and strategic competition, in which the oceans are 

 the principal highways to world trade. 



Man's involvement with the oceans is, however, far broader than national 

 security and trade : 



— The oceans are the principal source of rainfall. 



— They help to stabilize our climate, for the seas gain and lose heat from 



the sun more slowly than the land. 

 — They supply food of great variety, rich in protein. 



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