339 



ference, but Alpine was the single and only bidder. We were awarded 

 the contract to provide over 2 million pounds of marine protein con- 

 centrate (MFC) to AID. 



I have a few simple points to present to this distinguished group. 

 Oceanography is often compared to space, in fact such terms as inner- 

 space and wet NASA are commonplace. However as an oceanographer 

 and moreover as a commercial oceanographer I note one big ditference 

 between space and the oceans : Space holds no profit motive for private 

 industry — other than the design, development, and fabrication of 

 hardware. 



While, in contrast, the oceans hold considerable profit motive for 

 industr3^ We do not seek development of hardware, we — industry — 

 seek the exploitation of the oceans. The exploitation of the oceans 

 should be by private industry, using private capital. 



We, as the oceanographic industry, compete with many Govern- 

 ment supported academic research programs — which are in reality, 

 rather poorly performed and inefficient oceanographic studies carried 

 out by university students. 



As you all know last year's budget cuts have made considerable in- 

 roads into oceanography. Industry will need considerable help to con- 

 tinue its progress in the oceans. We feel that the Government needs 

 to help private industry — help by initiating fewer big Government 

 supported programs using unnecessarily expensive and inefficient 

 research vessels. 



Put this money into joint academic, industrial, and Government 

 programs where the unique capabilities of each group are utilized to 

 the maximum. 



We, at Alpine, believe that the national projects recommended by 

 the Commission are well conceived. I would recommend the operation 

 of such research, development, testing and evaluation facilities to be 

 by private industry, on a cooperative arrangement with Government 

 and the academic community. 



As examples, Alpine has been engaged in tw^o such projects, which 

 have been perhaps the most efficient application of taxpayers' dollars 

 in oceanography. The first of these was the International Indian 

 Ocean Expedition. Here the U.S. Navy provided a ship which was 

 converted, by Alpine, to a biological oceanographic research vessel 

 using Government funds — in this case provided by the National 

 Science Foundation. 



The vessel, which was formerly President Truman's yacht, was re- 

 named the RV Anton Bruun, and was operated by Alpine using a 

 regular union crew. Alpine was responsible for a basic scientific staff 

 who performed routine oceanographic measurements and maintained 

 the equipment. 



Scientists from Government agencies and from academic institu- 

 tions, both domestic and foreign, participated on a grant basis, with 

 funding by NSF, and with overall scientific planning and program- 

 ing by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 



The program went extremely well and a follow-on project along 

 the west coast of South America was also carried out. Unfortunately, 

 the Brumvs useful life has expired. NSF has run short of funds and 

 she is to become a seaside restaurant in New Jersey. 



