14 SEA GRANT COLLEGES 



animal life exists in the sea. With today's technology, we could pro- 

 duce, for less than 20 cents per pound, a fish protein concentrate — also 

 called fish flour — that could help feed the world. Government scien- 

 tists at the University of Maryland believe the techniques developed 

 there could also be exported to nations such as India. 



Even with the methods we have now of hunting fish in the sea, it is 

 estimated we could, with greater effort and present technology, in- 

 crease the yield of fish approximately four times. But, what if we 

 learned to truly farm the sea? What if we know how to fertilize 

 the sea and stimulate the growth of valuable species ? The benefits to 

 be gained are beyond calculation. 



There is also reason to believe that the oceans may be an untapped 

 source of the new medicines. Many of today's pharmaceuticals were 

 originally found in tiny organisms living in the soil, but the oceans 

 teem with life. In fact, one of the oceanographers here at the Uni- 

 versity of Rhode Island was the recipient of the first patent for a 

 marine antibiotic. However, we really have no idea of what other 

 useful substances might be found in the ocean, because only limited 

 research is being conducted in this field. 



These are some of the challenges which the oceans offer. I am con- 

 vinced that Federal funding for sea grant colleges would be one of 

 the most significant educational steps we could take at this time in 

 our history. I therefore urge passage of this legislation. Thank you. 



Senator Pell. Thank you. Dr. Horn, and because of your pioneer- 

 ing work and thoughts which have led to the fact that this university 

 here occupies a very leading role in this field on the east coast of the 

 United States. 



I have a couple of inquiries here on which I am wondering about 

 your thinking. First: The thought has come up that perhaps the 

 original administration of this bill might best benefit in the hands of 

 the Smithsonian Institution or some other agency on a temporary basis 

 rather than the National Science Foundation. Do you have any 

 thought one way or the other as to this matter? 



Dr. Horn. Well, I haven't thought about that, sir, but I should think 

 that whichever agency is most interested in seeing that these funds 

 are adequately distributed where they can be best used should be the 

 one to initially get the program off the ground. One of the difficul- 

 ties in giving or placing the funds exclusively in the hands of the 

 National Science Foundation revolves around the point that they give 

 their financial support to the individual. There is growing feeling 

 that this has not been always in the best interest of science or the uni- 

 versities. I think it would be wise to find another agency. 



Senator Pell. Another question along the same line is whether 

 or not the $17 million is enough to start with. Do you have any 

 thought as to that? Do you think it is too much? Do you think 

 it is too little ? What do you think ? 



Dr. Horn. Well, any amount, sir, is good. But $17 million is peanuts 

 when it is compared to the budget for NASA which is $6 billion, I 

 think. I hope that eventually the importance of exploration of the 

 inner space, as you have called it, versus outer space will become evi- 

 dent to our people and that the results would be rather substantial. 



Consequently, I don't think it ought to be tied exclusively to a per- 

 centage of income from the reality of offshore exploration. 



