SEA GRANT COLLEGES 157 



Hole. Tnlike the MBL, the Oceanographic Institution has changed, however, 

 to a year-round activity with a resident scientific staff of over a hundred. With 

 the rapid and easy transport to Boston it is a beehive of activity throughout 

 the year. 



The biggest change in the oceanographic came when Columbus Iselin was di- 

 rector during tlie years of World War II. The oceanographic had already 

 been carrying on for 10 years, investigations into the structure and the chemis- 

 try of the Atlantic Ocean and Iselin recognized the importance of these observa- 

 tions to the operations of the U.S. Navy, primarily in the field of acoustics and 

 undersea warfare. During the war, scientists were willing to forego their ivory- 

 tower investigations and to turn their attention to problems which were vital 

 to the survival of the Nation. To meet the demand for information about ma- 

 rine sciences the laboratory rapidly expanded, not only in its study of under- 

 water acoustics, but also in such fields as the biology of the fouling of ships'' 

 bottoms and chemical studies of antifouling paints, the meteorological condi- 

 tions which influence the patterns and development of smokescreens over water, 

 in underwater explosives, and in the factors which control the developanent 

 and visibility of wakes of ships at sea. Contrary to Bigelow's expectation, 

 the scientists found Woods Hole a desirable location to carry on their research 

 and to live. 



These three separate and independent laboratories in Woods Hole are today 

 as vigorous and active as they have been at any time in their history. Daily, 

 one sees the collecting vessels of the MBL set out to obtain marine specimens 

 which are used in college instruction throughout the country and it is not an 

 Tincommon sight to see an oceanographic or fisheries vessel return to the docks 

 after several months on a research cruise away from the home port. For the 

 first time last year the newest of these vessels, the Atlaniifi 11, returned from 

 a trip around the world in which studies were conducted at such farflung places 

 as the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, the coasts of Japan, and the Pacific. Thus 

 the history of Woods Hole as a center for marine research has developed over 

 nearly a century from rather modest beginnings to a scientific center of world 

 renown where one can meet scientists from any part of this country or abroad, 

 where the library is one of the best in marine sciences in the world and where 

 young students can swim, sail, and study with their professors and gain an ex- 

 perience which is difficult if not impossible to duplicate in any other place. 



This is a brief review of the past and the present, and it augurs well for the 

 future. Inevitably men will penetrate more deeply the marine environment 

 in order to learn its secrets and exploit its resources. While I have emphasized 

 the scientific center at Woods Hole, it Is clear that the nearby universities in 

 Boston and the New England Aquarium have already contributed much to marine 

 science. Closer association between the Boston and Woods Hole centers of ma- 

 rine science will afford unexcelled educational engineering and research oppor- 

 tunities to lead the future developments that are impending. 



Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts. A national sea o-rant college 

 program would give these IMassachnsetts universities and institutions 

 the additional financial assistance, direction, and encouragement, they 

 need to revitalize the fishing and marine industries of N"eAV England. 

 Moreover such a program would give mucli needed support, to younger, 

 developing institutions. 



For example the Southeastern Massachusetts Technical Institute, a 

 new university in southeastern Massachusetts, has just begun a pro- 

 gram of research into aquatic sciences and is working closely with 

 industry and ca\\q leaders in the New England fishing community. 

 SMTI needs the type of assistance envisioned in S. 24^39 to strengthen 

 its curriculum and to provide necessary e^^juipment and salaries. And 

 the e.stablisiiment of a sea grant college within SMTI or other institu- 

 tions in soutlieastera Massachu.setts sliould bring to the New Bedford 

 area new marine and aquatic industries anxious to take advaiitage of 

 the research facilities and texihnological advances which will flow from 

 this program. I believe developing private industry interest is an im- 

 portant aspect of the sea grant college program. For just as industry 



