SEA GRANT COLLEGES 125 



even if it stretches out a few clays more that he may be with us. I am 

 well aware of the "fish forum,'* I participated in it and I congratulate 

 you on it, 



I have a couple of specific questions here that I would like to ask 

 you. We are fortunate to have such a well informed witness as your- 

 self here. What is your view as to where the administration of these 

 funds should be placed, the repository ? What agency should admin- 

 ister this bill? Should it be the National Scientific Fomidation or 

 should it be the Smithsonian Institution ? 



Dr. Knauss. Well, I have thought about it, Senator, and also the 

 committee for sea grant colleges has thought about it. I think one 

 thing is clear from our discussions that there is no obvious place within 

 the Federal Government where the sea grant college bill should, I 

 mean, the administration of it should rest. One of the things that we 

 have sort of agreed upon among ourselves is that it probably should 

 not be in an agency which has a reasonably narrow mission as regards 

 the sea, such as the Bureau of Commerce or the Department of Defense. 

 Certainly the National Science Foundation and Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion meet the criteria as having missions with a broad or big scope. 

 I can see many good reasons why it should go to Smithsonian. The 

 National Science Foundation was set up some 15 years ago and as a 

 result the National Science Foundation, rightfully so, has moved very 

 slowly in taking on new funds. As a result it has built up a great 

 reservoir of good feeling among scientists. But, at the same time it 

 has not exercised its prerogatives as much as it might have. Whether 

 they are in a position to take on something as applied, say, as the sea 

 grant college program is not for me to decide. 



Senator Pell. In connection with the actual bill itself do you have 

 any specific thought as to changes, because this bill that we have al- 

 ready discussed at the Southern New England Marine Scientists Asso- 

 ciation, and is being discussed here is perfectly open to change and we 

 need some specific suggestions. Do you have any thoughts as to 

 changes? 



Dr. Knauss. Well, this sea grant college committee has suggested 

 some changes which are appended with our statements. 



Senator Pell. I think it is probably a good idea, whether these sug- 

 gestions are adopted or not, to put them in the record. Accordingly, I 

 vvill ask that they be made a part of the record at this time. 



Now, do you have any view as to this perhaps more general question 

 of the law of the sea ? Where do you think our national interest lies? 

 Do you want to follow the very interesting suggestion of Professor 

 Holmsen of your faculty that the limits should extend on the basis of 

 depths, or would our national interest lie more on the basis of the 

 normal 3, or 6, or 12 miles ? 



Dr. Knauss. I think it depends upon whether you are a New Eng- 

 land fisherman or a marine skipper as to wliere 3'our national interest 

 lies. I feel that the real national interest rests and will be met by our 

 gaining mastery of the sea by economic and scientific exploration and 

 exploitation. 1 said it before, and I think it is worth repeating, his- 

 toiy shows that control of the land has gone to those people who oc- 

 cupy the land. Not necessarily that country that is the strongest or 

 has the strongest armies. That country which actually can occupy the 

 sea, exploit the sea, will, in fact, control the sea. And that is even, 

 more important than having the best navy in the world. 



