SEA GRANT COLLEGES 267 



we wish to extend our congratulations to those senators who have had the 

 wisdom and imagination to seeli practical means by which to allow mankind to. 

 make practical uses of the great resources of the oceans. 



Prepared Statement of Edwin A. Link, Link Group, General Precision, Inc., 



BiNGHAMTON, N.Y. 



Thank you. Senator Pell, for your invitation to testify and comment on the 

 pending bill for Sea Grant Colleges. 



My experience with the Deep Submergence Review Group of the U.S. Navy 

 and my research work on the Man-in-the-Sea program of deep diving and living 

 at great depths have certainly emphasized the need of having qualified youth 

 understand the problems and environment of the oceans, which at present is 

 lacking particularly in ocean engineering. 



I have been working with Florida Atlantic University which is the first uni- 

 versity, I believe, to establish an Ocean Engineering course. Also through the 

 Link Foundation, which I established some years ago, we have given them, and 

 others, grants for students in ocean engineering and development of curriculum. 



At present I am engaged with the research vessel Sea Diver in developing 

 deep diving systems and have taken on board at my own expense two senior 

 students of Florida Atlantic to give them actual ocean engineering experience, 

 so bad is the need for these trained young men. and because of the almost com- 

 plete lack of any available training at the present time. 



With this backgi-ound of experience and knowledge of the necessity I hope 

 that Sea Grant Colleges will be established to fill this vacuum. 



New York, N.Y., May 11, 1966. 

 Senator Claiborne Pell. 

 Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, 

 U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Senator Pell : The wide range of activities that may be grouped under 

 the general heading of oceanology includes many areas where pure research may 

 be delayed for lack of the techniques and equipment necessary to carry on such 

 programs. It may well be the case, therefore, that in this emerging science the 

 development of techniques and equipment will have to precede basic research 

 rather than the reverse, which is contrary to the classic relationship. Con- 

 sequently, it is gratifying to note that the proposed bill S. 2439, the National Sea 

 Grant College and Program Act of 1965 takes cognizance of this fact under sec- 

 tion 2(d) (2) which states that the Federal Government should support sea grant 

 colleges and programs by "initiating and supporting necessary research and 

 development programs in the marine sciences resulting in the acquisition of 

 knowledge of a direct and practical nature, with preference given to programs 

 that translate the findings of basic research to practices, techniques, and equip- 

 ment applicable to the marine sciences." 



Similarly, the proposed amendment to the National Science Foundation Act of 

 1950 (42 LT.S.C. 1861 et seq.) contained in section 3(c) appears to be well advised 

 in proposing that : 



"'(c) Programs to carry out the purposes of section 3(a) (10) shall be ac- 

 complished through contracts with, or grants to, suitable public or private agen- 

 cies, public or private institutions of higher learning, museums, foundations, 

 industries, laboratories, corporations, organizations, or groups of individuals, 

 which are engaged in, or concerned with, activities in the marine sciences, for 

 the establishment and operation by them of such programs.' " 



I believe that the legislation proposed by S. 2439, and especially those sections 

 cited above, could materially increase the rate of development of oceanology 

 in the United States. 



With every good wish for your success, I am, 

 Sincerely, 



Peter R. Gimbel. 



