12 MARINE SCIENCE 



ago. Today 45 percent of all our food fish are imported ; 10 years ago 

 only 18 percent of the fisheries products we consumed were brought in 

 from abroad. 



Some of the causes are economic, and S. 2692 calls for economic 

 studies in addition to scientific research. It is our hope that this will 

 help restore a billion dollar industry that gives employment in normal 

 years to half a million citizens of our Nation. 



We all know of the fearful destruction that can be caused by tidal 

 waves, or tsumami as they are known to scientists. That at Hilo, 

 Hawaii, in 1946 caused a heavy loss of life and $17 million damage. 

 But in addition to these earthquake-induced catastrophes normal wave 

 action each year causes property losses in the United States estimated 

 at more than $15 million. 



The Beach Erosion Board of the Corps of Engineers is now making 

 significant contributions toward mitigating this damage. 



I could go on with many other illustrations of the peacetime bene- 

 fits that can be achieved by a comprehensive and coordinated long- 

 range program of marine research and surveys. But I shall now 

 turn this hearing over to the testimony of scientists who have come 

 here from California, Maine, Washington, Florida, and four other 

 States which have a direct and immediate interest in advancement of 

 the marine sciences. 



The first witness will be Athelstan Spilhaus of the University of 

 Minnesota. 

 (A biographical sketch of Dr. Spilhaus follows :) 



Athelstan Fredebick Spilhaus, D. Sc. 



Born: Cape Town, Union of South Africa, November 25, 1911; son of Karl 

 Antonio and Nellie (Muir) Spilhaus. 



Education: B. Sc, University of Cape Town, 1931; S.M., Massachusetts In- 

 stitute of Technology, 1933 ; D. Sc. University of Cape Town, 1948. 



Came to United States 1931 ; naturalized in 1946. 



Research assistant, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1933-35 research 

 on aeronautical and meter ©logical instruments. 



Assistant Director of Technical Services, Union of South Africa Defense 

 Forces, 1935-36. Initiated first upper air meteorological investigations in South 

 Africa. 



Research assistant in oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 

 1936-37. Model experiments in oceanography and development of bathytherm- 

 ograph. 



New York University, meteorology, assistant professor 1937, associate pro- 

 fessor 1939, professor 1942-48. Started new Department of Meteorology at 

 New York University and was chairman from 1938 to 1947. 



Investigator in physical oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Insti- 

 tution, 1938 to date. Development and use of rapid measuring oceanographic 

 instruments. 



U.S. Army Air Forces, 1943^6. Research and development of meteorological 

 equipment. Contributed to radar and radio upper wind finding, sferics, and 

 meteorological instruments for measurements from aircraft in flight. Awarded 

 Legion of Merit, 1946. 



Director of research, New York University, 1946-48. Developed research di- 

 vision, covering fields of engineering and physical sciences. 



Meteorological adviser to Union of South Africa Government, 1947. Re- 

 organization of meteorological services. 



Dean, Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, since January 1949. 



Scientific director of weapons effects of two Nevada atomic tests, 1951, and 

 consultant, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Department of Defense. 

 Recipient, Eixceptional Civilian Service Medal, U.S. Air Force, 1952. 



Member of the Baker Mission to Korea, July 1952 (civilian scientific mission 

 sentby U.S. Army). 



