124 SEA GRAX'T COLLEGES 



tors will gather here for 5 days to discuss offshore boundaries and 

 zones. The chairman of our geography department is directing this 

 effort. 



Last spring we formalized a program that has been evolving for 

 some time and announced the establishment of a curriculum in ocean 

 engineering. This program is a joint offering of tlie college of 

 engineering and the graduate school of oceanography, designed to 

 produce graduates with master's and doctoral degrees who under- 

 stand the ocean environment and can design and build structures, 

 vehicles, and equipment necessary for its exploration and exploita- 

 tion. Graduates of this program are in great demand. 



We have recently established a marine experiment station. Through 

 the mechanism of this station we expect soon to be able to tackle a 

 wide variety of problems. The initial program which will begin 

 this summer concerns shellfish culture. We believe it possible to 

 develop a completely controlled "closed system"' of growing shell- 

 fish on a commercial basis. Assuming such a system can be estab- 

 lished where we control the enviromnent and the growth from the 

 larval stages on up through maturity and reproduction, we can start 

 on the next stage. We can try to improve the enviromnent; we can 

 develop the optimum food for growth; we can develop a better and 

 faster growing product by selective breeding. 



We work almost on a daily basis with local fishermen. We run a 1- 

 day fishermen's forum each spring, introducing them to new tech- 

 niques to increase their productivity. University bacteriologists also 

 help to solve quality problems in fish processing. In addition, we are 

 working with local fishermen to modify midwater trawl methods and 

 gear so that they can be used on local vessels. We have proposed the 

 establishment of a 2-year fisheries school where fishermen will be 

 trained. 



I hope I have given you an idea of where we here at the University 

 of Rhode Island are heading and the type of activity that should be 

 characteristic of sea grant colleges. What is being proposed as I 

 understand it is an assault on the problems of the sea, using all of the 

 various kinds of intellectual resources generally associated with a uni- 

 versity. I am convinced, however, that much as we have done to date, 

 it is only the beginning. Much more can be done in terms of the 

 future growth and security of this country. I think much more needs 

 to be done. 



I believe a mechanism of some sort which guarantees minimal levels 

 of financial support is necessary. This can be accomplished through 

 passage of legislation establishing sea grant colleges. If such legisla- 

 tion is passed I am certain that within a liundrecl years or less our 

 children and our children's children will have reason to admire our 

 vision. We will have given them another world far richer than the 

 one we have now. Thank you very much. 



Senator Pell. Thank you very much for coming here to testify. I 

 should also like to add how grateful we are to you for lending us one 

 of your graduate students, Bob Foumier, who has contributed so much 

 in the actual drawing up of this legislation. As you know I have 

 quite an intern program of people from Ehode Island, more than 250 

 in the last few years have worked in my office. We are very grate- 

 ful to you for lending Bob to us for this period of 6 weeks. We trust, 



