SEA GRANT COLLEGES 17 



ment of new methods of catching, processing, and merchandising fish. 

 We accept, the fact that we as Americans have barely commenced to 

 harvest the bounty of the sea. It is essential that we get about this 

 work before those more interested and dedicated than ourselves have 

 advanced far beyond us in a scientific approach to fruitful produc- 

 tivity. At the same time, we must provide for future growth in the 

 fisheries through conservation. We can all envision, I believe, the 

 monumental effect that fish flour or any type of fish concentrate can 

 have upon our internal economy and starving people wherever they 

 exist in the world. 



We are living in very accelerated years, years when scientific prog- 

 ress and achievement seem to be outstripping man's ability to under- 

 stand, in some cases, the rapidity of development. Many years ago 

 when the industrial revolution was taking place in Europe, progress 

 at first moved through very many experimental, mechanical stages. 

 However, in these days, it appears possible that through lateral de- 

 velopment starting from the top, with a chartered and fully thought 

 out method of approach, we can accomplish in a few years what would 

 ordinaril;^ take generations. 



The universities of America have the ability, if financially assisted, 

 to render to mankind, the mechanism to transfer the brilliance of 

 scientific thought and accomplishment into the practicality of Ameri- 

 can productive genius. Universities have played an ever-increasing 

 role in the development of our Nation's vital resources both in mind 

 and matter. I can think of no better place to invest some of the 

 fruits of our affluent society than in our great universities for the 

 purpose of returning to Americans, and to mankind, the benefits of 

 their combined abilities. 



One of New Bedford's links with the future is Southeastern Massa- 

 chusetts Technological Institute, our State's newest university, which 

 is now being built not far from our city limits. 



This young institute has already made commitments to teaching 

 and research in the fields of marine biology, oceanography, and 

 oceanology. 



When the sea grant college concept materializes — as it must if the 

 United States is to provide our young scientists and technologists 

 with the means to explore and develop the resources of the seas — it is 

 essential that the development of the ocean resources be entrusted not 

 only to old and venerable institutions, such as the Marine Biology 

 Laboratories, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutions, such as our 

 host institution, but also to such new and vigorous seaboard universi- 

 ties as Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute. In its 

 few short years of existence, SMTI has demonstrated a commitment 

 to teaching and research in application related enterprises such as 

 fisheries biology, environmental monitoring, and conservation of 

 estuaries. 



In other nations, particularly, Eussia, Poland, Canada, and Japarj, 

 great stress has l>een given to effectively assisting all staares of marine 

 development both in research and in application. The United States, 

 with its early lead, its tremendous resources, its magnificent universi- 

 ties, and a sense of creativity, has lain back, and permitted others to 

 surpass us. 



It is very exciting that we appear now to be moving in the direc- 

 tion of giving our attention to a long neglected area. It seems that 



