76 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 



Mr. McKernan. Yes; it is very likely we would be notified of this 

 by local health authorities and others, because our scientists are for 

 the most part the leading shellfish scientists in the Nation. 



Mr. Lennon. When did you receive your first notice of the poten- 

 tiality of disease being carried by shellfish in the Providence, R.I., 

 area? 



Mr. McKernan. I can't give you that information. I would be 

 glad to supply it for the record, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon. Do you have any recollection at all about it? 



Mr. McKernan. No, I don't; but we learned about it very quickly. 



Mr. Lennon. To what extent was this illness present within this 

 area that was attributable to the disease of shellfish, particularly 

 oysters? 



Mr. McKernan. Well, if you will permit me to recollect, and it 

 has been some time ago, and events have passed 



Mr. Lennon. Yes. 



Mr. McKernan (continuing). But as I remember, we were in 

 direct consultation with local health authorities and there was some 

 question as to whether shellfish were even involved. 



Mr. Lennon. What type of disease was it? 



Mr. McKernan. I believe it was infectious hepatitis, and you 

 know the transmission of this disease is not well understood, and as I 

 recollect, Mr. Lennon, the final outcome of this was that it was very 

 likely due, or most likely due to the poaching of shellfish from con- 

 demned grounds. 



Mr. Dingell. Would you yield to me at that point? 



Mr. Lennon. For a couple of questions. 



Mr. Dingell. I had better wait, because I want to question on that. 



Mr. McKernan. I would like to repeat that I could be wrong 

 about that, because I am answering from my memory. 



Mr. Lennon. The records in your office will reflect any information 

 that came to you from the public health authorities of that area that 

 there was a possibility that this disease that you described or defined, 

 probably, or could possibly, have come from diseased shellfish. 



Mr. McKernan. Yes, Mr. Lennon. 



Mr. Lennon. And it was your conclusion, I believe you said it was 

 your conclusion — ■ — ■ 



Mr. McKernan. My "recollection"; could we put it that way? 



Mr. Lennon. Your recollection that perhaps this was not so, that 

 it was not attributable to diseased shellfish. Is that right? 



Mr. McKernan. No, it is my recollection that there was some 

 question about the origin of the disease, and then it seems to me, if 

 my recollection serves me properly, that it was finally decided that 

 there had been some lack of enforcement of condemned oyster 

 grounds, polluted grounds. 



Mr. Lennon. Who was responsible 



Mr. McKernan. I shouldn't say oyster, because I believe it was 

 clams. 



Mr. Lennon. Clams. Whose responsibility was it to prohibit and 

 to enforce the law against poaching on this contaminated area? 



Mr. McKernan. The State's. 



Mr. Lennon. The State. The State of Rhode Island? 



Mr. McKernan. Yes. 



Mr. Dingell. If the gentleman would yield, I believe — am I right 

 on this — that it was Raritan Bay, N.J.? 



