SEA GRANT COLLEGES 11 



hearing has been held at a university. We are proud that the Uni- 

 versity of Rhode Island has that honor. We are grateful to you, sir, 

 and to the chairman of the full committee. Senator Hill, for holding 

 this hearing on our campus. May I also express my profound regret 

 at the death of your colleague on this committee. Senator McNamara. 



Senator Pell. Thank you. 



Dr. Horn. It is a pleasure to testify here today because I believe 

 the bill to establish sea grant colleges presents the Nation with a great 

 opportunity and even greater responsibilities. I believe that we stand 

 at an important crossroads in the history of the marine sciences in 

 this country. 



After 8 years of intimate involvement with the faculty in what since 

 1961 has been a graduate school of oceanography and with other peo- 

 ple working in the marine sciences in this region, I am convinced 

 that we must provide a more effective educational structure to help 

 solve the problems involved in harvesting the wealth of the oceans. 



If we don't seize this opportunity, I'm afraid others will. A Rus- 

 sian scientist summed up the outlook this way : "The nation which 

 first learns to understand the seas will control them, and the nation 

 which controls the seas will control the world." In other words, 

 whether we realize it or not, we are now engaged in a race to see who 

 will control the inner space of the oceans. 



While our eyes are focused on the heavens, I hope we don't lose sight 

 of what is happening right off the shores of this and every continent in 

 the world. Many informed observers claim that the Russians are seek- 

 ing mastery of the seas, not only for the wealth to be realized, but also 

 because this control provides a unique instrument of foreign policy. 

 For instance, Russia's advanced knowledge in fisheries is being used 

 to win them new friends among the underdeveloped nations of the 

 world. Tons of Russian fish are being landed for consumption in 

 Africa and in other parts of the world. Millions of people have bene- 

 fited from the addition of fish protein to their diet, and Russian pres- 

 tige has been advanced. 



While we struggle in this country to salvage a faltering fishing in- 

 dustry, Russian factory ships and fishing vessels cruise the major ocean 

 highways and establish port and other facilities in strategic locations 

 astride the avenues of ocean commerce. 



While we in the United States attempt to coordinate the activities 

 of dozens of Federal agencies concerned with marine activities, we 

 learn that the Russians have recently organized a National Council for 

 the Utilization of the Resources of the Sea. The function of this latter 

 group is to speed up economic and political exploitation of the sea. 



If time would permit, I am sure other examples could be developed 

 of how we suffer m comparison to rising Soviet excellence in oceanog- 

 raphy and the marine sciences at present. However, I believe it will 

 become evident in the course of these hearings that we need a national 

 oceanographic policy that places major emphasis on the utilization 

 of the brains and talents in our institutions of higher learning. 



The partnership between the Federal Government and our colleges 

 and universities has been most successful in the past. I see no reason 

 why we shouldn't adapt it to today's needs. 



I emphasize the word "partnership." This is what is being sought 

 in this sea grant college bill. 



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