SEA GRANT COLLEGES 145 



unclaimed in this vast unexplored domain, and our Nation must press 

 forward more vigorousl}^ toward this new frontier if we are to be com- 

 petitive with other nations. We need to take much more seriously 

 our responsibility to communicate our present fund of knowledge of 

 the ocean and its resources to the people who can use it. This need will 

 become ever more acute as we begin to apply modern engineering tech- 

 niques to the problem. A remarkably large amount of scientific knowl- 

 edge is available, but largely unused, because it is buried in the scien- 

 tific literature, expressed in terms incomprehensible to the layman even 

 if he knew where to put his hands on it. This communication failure 

 is partly responsible for the primitive condition of our fisheries and 

 also for the state of our ability to mine the ocean waters and bottoms 

 for minerals and fossil organic substances. The universities are the 

 natural media for translation and dissemination of knowledge to the 

 country. One important purpose of this bill is to provide for closer 

 teamwork between the Government and the universities in achieving 

 these objectives. 



In our opinion, S. 2439 states two important purposes to be satisfied 

 through a new program of financial support to colleges, universities, 

 and other organizations. The first of these is to carry out the research, 

 development, and applied work necessary to leam how to use the oceans 

 as part of our environment following the same concepts that we have 

 applied to use of the land. Thus we can regard the oceans and sea 

 bed as areas which produce food, minerals, and chemicals, which can 

 provide energy and be used for recreation, but which also can be pol- 

 luted and spoiled if we do not follow proper conservation practices. 

 The intent here is to seek practical applications, carry out management, 

 and promote industrial advancement. The second intent is to create 

 an expanded capability for training scientists, technicians, engineers, 

 and others needed to accomplish this first objective. 



The Department of the Interior firmly believes that more and more 

 emphasis must be placed by the Federal Goevrnment, the States, edu- 

 cational institutions, industry, and other public and private organiza- 

 tions and individuals on improving the Nation's capability to obtain 

 and use wisely our marine resources. S. 2439 is designed to supply 

 this emphasis on the national level. Legislation along the lines of the 

 bill is needed to supply the focus that is required in the field of marine 

 science. 



The concept of developing skilled personnel, such as engineers and 

 technicians, to exploit our marine resources is sound. We agree that 

 the National Science Fomidation should play a major role with respect 

 to basic research and scientific education in this area. We believe, 

 however, that the Department of the Interior must continue to play a 

 major role in programs aimed at exploiting marine resources because 

 of our present expertise in basic marine research and in the manage- 

 ment and development of these resources. 



In explanation of this positon I wish to refer to the declaration of 

 purpose and recommendations for implementation of this bill as stated 

 on pages 2 to 4. 



The marine sciences programs of the Department are directly con- 

 cerned with the research, development, and applied aspects of these 

 purposes. To a lesser extent we are involved in the training and edu- 

 cational aspects. Interior has the major responsibility for the Gov- 



