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collection mechanisms for different t5rpes of biomass materials, the 

 direct harvesting mechanical work, some of that today is also being 

 supported by the GRI effort, where they are looking at techniques 

 that can be applied to that concept. 



Mr. Emery. The reason I asked is because in my hometown, 

 which is Rockland, Maine, there is a company which produces a 

 very significant portion of this Nation's output of seaweed prod- 

 ucts, carrageen and other materials. They are in the position of 

 bujdng a certain percentage of their seaweed, their raw material, 

 from halfway around the world. In the other areas of the world the 

 terrain allows the harvesting of this material by machine. The 

 New England coast is an5^hing but smooth, which makes harvest 

 difficult to do any other way than by hand. 



You ought to look at existing pieces of equipment around the 

 world that are used for harvesting various kinds of seaweed. You 

 should also do some work relative to the energy content, or the 

 feasibility of converting various types of material, different kinds 

 of seaweed into usable energy supplies in various ways. Do you 

 have any background on the feasibility of using one kind of sea- 

 weed versus another kind of seaweed? 



Have you ever done any kind of work on different species, or do 

 you consider it all as one mass, treated the same way? 



Dr. San Martin. Our program to date, Mr. Emery, has focused 

 on just a few particular species. We are looking to expand that, 

 because there are so many available that can be used, and look at 

 those, so that we can, from a stronger knowledge base, be able to 

 priority, range which are the most promising ones, as versus at- 

 tempting to utilize those species that are indigenous to a particular 

 area. 



Mr. Adams. Our work at Woods Hole is targeted, you know, in 

 that area, and is looking for different species. I only know enough 

 about the species question to be dangerous with it, but it certainly 

 indicates, from the reading I have done, and the information that I 

 have been given, that certain kinds of seaweed appear to be prom- 

 ising. 



Mr. Emery. That is what we are talking about. 



Mr. Adams. Seaweeds, as opposed to other particular strains of 

 biomass material. 



Mr. Emery. That is what we are talking about, Irish moss, rock- 

 weed, kelp. All pretty much characterized as a seaweed. They are 

 all algaes. 



One interest that I have is the possibility of using rockweed. It is 

 in great proliferation, tremendous proliferation, all up and down 

 the coast of New England. It also exists in the tidal zone, which 

 means it can be harvested by people at low tide. It would almost 

 certainly have to be harvested by hand, rather than machinery of 

 any large scale, because of the nature of its growth. 



With this tremendous abundance, on just about every rock in 

 North America, on the ocean, there ought to be some way to 

 harvest this at a much lower price than that which was mentioned 

 earlier. Then the question remains of the most efficient way to use 

 the biomass for energy. 



Have you had a chance to do any studies to determine the most 

 effective way to extract some kinds of energy? I suppose it could be 



