SEA GRANT COLLEGES 175 



ing more specimens available to us for study. As the agency respon- 

 sible for the national collections, we would be called on to identify the 

 unusual sea organisms and to produce better lists, descriptions, and 

 monogi'aphs of the organisms to be encountered. The Institution 

 would continue to utilize its research collections to advance the ability 

 of the Nation to exploit its resources. 



Colleges have a continuing need for identifications of animals and 

 plants. The Institution has provided for identification of such speci- 

 mens through making available reference collections, special library 

 facilities, and staff assistance. We provide identifications directly 

 and serve as hosts for scientific staffs for the specialists of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and Interior for example. We would hope to be 

 able to extend our scientific and intellectual resources to meet the 

 exciting challenge proposed in S. 2439. 



I thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Senator Pell. Thank you. Dr. Galler. 



As to be expected from the Smithsonian Institution, I notice that 

 your testhnony was deft and muted and brought forth chuckles of 

 appreciation from the audience. 



I have great admiration for the work that you do. I was struck 

 particularly by your point about how primitive we are in our fishing 

 today, and how little we know, and actually our fishing — we talk 

 about aquaculture as opposed to agriculture — fishing today is really 

 at the same stage as when my own Indian forebears in this country 

 were picking berries and food as they came across them and then moved 

 on. ITltimately harvesting by this nomadic approach was replaced by 

 establishing fixed farms. In harvesting the seas' resources we have 

 not yet reached the farm stage. 



Dr. Galler. That is correct. 



Senator Pell. And you are very right. We are very far behind. 



Now, there is one question that I have been asking various witnesses. 

 I would be very interested in your response to it. One of the prob- 

 lems is where this program should be administered and while origi- 

 nally we had thought in interim of the National Science Foundation, 

 the question has come up as to whether that might give too theoretical 

 a cast to it or an approach to it, also too much of the so-called indi- 

 vidual grant as opposed to program grant approach, and perhaps not 

 enough emphasis on the types of work which are rather mundane and 

 not necessary even at the college graduate level. 



One of the thoughts that I had was that it might well go into the 

 Smithsonian Institution to be spun off at a later date as we see fit or 

 remain, but most likely spun off to whatever agency might be set up 

 under the Magnuson bill to have responsibility for the development 

 of oceanology in our quest. It may be a wet NASA — I would say I 

 hope not — or it may be some other kind of agency. It is extremely 

 imlikely that any Government agency would decline to take on a pro- 

 gram, but I just wanted to ascertain your own thoughts in this matter 

 and if you would be willing to take this on and if you wanted to take 

 this on. Wliat are your views ? 



Dr. Galler. Mr. Chairman, I can only respond in a circumferential 

 way to this question because it does involve a question of policy which 

 would have to receive the appropriate consideration of our Board of 

 Regents. So with your permission I would like to respond as a per- 



