OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 49 



fishing industry would itself benefit. This process may be all the 

 more significant where the economies of fishing and the lack of funds 

 for research make it unlikely that experimental fishing boats could 

 be funded by themselves. 



Whereas most emphasis in marine biology relates to zoological or- 

 ganisms, vegetation of the sea also is deserving of attention. Marine 

 algae have some human nutritional value, and it is interesting to note 

 current research on the possibihty of continuous production of algae 

 to sustain man in space. Algae now eaten throughout the world are 

 seldom a delicacy, but certain properties of agar, for example, favor its 

 use not only for its own sake, but as a preservative for other foods 

 where refrigeration is lacking. 



The United States has for some years maintained a policy of tech- 

 nical assistance to the undeveloped countries of the world. Studies in 

 marine biology suggest themselves as an emerging area wherein the 

 fruits of research may be literally as well as figuratively beneficial to 

 all mankind. 



An entirely different objective now motivates studies of the porpoise 

 and other sea mammals. Although the porpoise has been something 

 of an entertaining curiosity in the sea, scientists concerned with 

 behavior of marine life have recently come to recognize that at least 

 this particular mammal bears more than passing investigation. In 

 the first instance — ■ 



the relative intellectual standing of various animals cannot be accurately as- 

 sessed because the validity of all proposed tests is open to question. Most 

 zoologists who have studied porpoises are deeply impressed both with the por- 

 poise's ability to learn almost incredibly fast on some tests and the wide variety 

 of its emotional responses.^^ 



The porpoise is apparently able to swim far faster than can be com- 

 puted possible from analysis of his body form and energy for propul- 

 sion available from metabolism of food. Some scientists believe that 

 the porpoise is able to accomplish this feat by swimming without loss 

 of energy through turbulence, a condition which, if imitated, would 

 permit the propulsion of ships at either far higher speeds or lower 

 power than presently required. It has also been observed that the 

 porpoise incorporates a type of miderwater sonar. Apparently, even 

 when its ejes are covered with suction cups, it can traverse a course 

 spread with barriers of all kinds, sensing in some fashion their presence 

 and maneuvering to avoid collision. Many porpoises have been 

 trained to perform in captivity. 



AU of these facts suggest that creatures of the sea have evolved, in 

 general, with little or no close observation by man and that many 

 physiological as well as phj'sical processes of life in the sea bear 

 extensive study. The fruits of this research, like|that of any other 

 field, are unpredictable. 



S. Mineral Deposits 



Production of oil from offshore deposits and extraction of magne- 

 sium from sea water are well known examples of oceanic minerals. 

 However, large deposits of mineral nodules were discovered on the 

 ocean floor almost 100 years ago. More recent gleanings from the 

 ocean bed have revealed their presence in tremendous numbers, and 

 most of them contain high concentration of such minerals as manga- 



« Christian Science Monltor.'Apr. 30, 1960. 



