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tional policy — a national commitment to investigate this planet's 

 last and best frontier. I think the scientific questions are profound. 

 I think the societal rewards, both in terms of societal needs as well 

 as something more intangible, and that is the sense of excitement, 

 the sense of the unknown, the sense of exploration which has 

 driven mankind through history and evolution, are there standing 

 before us. In addition, the abyss is a lever for training students in 

 science and education. All of those issues, I think, go hand in hand 

 and follow in the wake of a vigorous national program. 



So,I close with a challenge for you to think beyond these near- 

 term problems and concerns, and try to look ahead and think of a 

 solution to this longer-term need which faces us. Thank you. 



[The prepared statement of Dr. Fox may be found at the end of 

 the hearing.] 



Mr. Ortiz. Thank you very much. Dr. Fox, for your testimony. 

 We have been joined by another colleague of ours, a member of the 

 subcommittee. Congressman Green, from the Houston area. Last, 

 but certainly not least, we will hear from Dr. Wicklund. Doctor. 



STATEMENT OF ROBERT I. WICKLUND, DIRECTOR, CARIBBEAN 



MARINE RESEARCH CENTER 



Dr. Wicklund. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is certainly a pleas- 

 ure to be here today to express my views on undersea research. I 

 would first like to say that you may hear some things that you 

 have already heard before, and it is not that we plagiarize each 

 other's testimony, we just think alike. 



I first would like to offer some background information on under- 

 sea research, its contribution to our knowledge of the oceans, and 

 our ultimate ability to properly protect, manage, and utilize the re- 

 sources. I remember back in the '60's, when I think we were far 

 ahead in some respects than we are right now in undersea technol- 

 ogy, there was a large anticipation that undersea research and 

 study in the oceans from an unseen vantage point was going to pay 

 off in large dividends. 



Companies such as Grumman, Lockheed, General Dynamics were 

 all building submersibles at that time. There must have been over 

 100 built during the early to late '60's. Even General Mills, a cereal 

 company, had a submarine on the drawing boards. The Navy un- 

 dersea habitat Sealab was launched in over 200 feet of water with 

 some great promise that people were going to be studying the 

 oceans from an undersea vantage point for long periods of time. 

 And as Sylvia pointed out, the Trieste made a dive to the deepest 

 part of the ocean in the Marianas Trench one time and was never 

 done again. 



Unfortunately — I don't like to pick again on the space program, 

 but at that time it was underway, and even though the country 

 was in fairly good economic times, we couldn't compete with the 

 former Soviets for space and build an oceans program at the same 

 time. Therefore, for lack of an undersea Sputnik, we were left 

 behind. It seems that the space people have a lot better capability 

 to find these kind of things to push the program than we do. 



In the '70's, NOAA was founded, and the Stratton Commission- 

 that was the body that recommended that NOAA be formed — rec- 



