370 



Mr. Drewry. Dr. Graller, on your ecological studies, wouldn't it be 

 fair to say that a real good simple example of the problems is that 

 represented by the sea lamprey invasion of the Great Lakes and the 

 ultimate killing off of the trout population in Lake Michigan? 



Dr. Galler. Sir, I think that would be a classic example. It is an 

 example of what I call "pathological" ecology where we try to treat an 

 ecological disease that might have been prevented. Indeed, in this par- 

 ticular case, in 1937 a distinguished scientist. Dr. Carl Hubbs, pointed 

 out the dangers of cutting through the Weyland Canal and pointed 

 specifically to the dangers of permitting the sea lamprey to enter the 

 Great Lakes. His advice was not followed and so we have inherited a 

 whole series of consequences. We started with the sea lamprey that 

 wiped out the trout fishery, the white fish industry. Then after the sea 

 lamprey was controlled came the alewives. Without natural predators 

 they in turn proliferated to the point where they constituted a very 

 serious public health menace. 



Now we have introduced salmon to control the menhaden. Let's 

 hope it works, but this is what I call ecological empiricism in which we 

 are operating by the seat of our trousers if I may speak candidly. What 

 we need is an ecological model, a means of helping industry, helping 

 the States, and helping the Federal agencies to predict and assess 

 what could happen if they go forward with specific plans that involve 

 manipulating the environment. 



Mr. Drewry. Incidentally, it has been extremely expensive since the 

 sea lamprey came, aside from the fact that the fishery was wiped out. 



On this taxonomic question, how extensive is the education and 

 training of a competent taxonomist ? 



Dr. Galler. It is quite extensive, Mr. Drewry. However, it is limited 

 and I am afraid becoming more limited to a relatively small number 

 of universities and the Smithsonian Institution. The Institution with 

 its own limited resources works closely with scientists in universities 

 to help with the training of graduate students, but we can not as a 

 ISTation right now count on very much help from the academic institu- 

 tions because there just aren't very many institutions engaged in the 

 training of taxonomic scientists. 



Mr. Drewry. Well, as I say, it is fundamental science. The taxono- 

 mist makes what kind of compensation? What kind of pay would a 

 competent taxonomist get at the Smithsonian ? 



Dr. Galler. I would say that the taxonomist within the Smithsonian 

 Institution does have a reasonable parity of salary with his confreres in 

 the other sciences in the Federal service. Where he is at a disadvantage 

 is that he finds it very difficult to convince his peers, both in the execu- 

 tive branch and in the legislative branch and the granting agencies, 

 that his science merits sufficient financial support to permit him to go 

 forward with his research. 



So, we are in the position as in the case of the Smithsonian Institution 

 and also the USD A and the Department of the Interior employ small 

 groups of taxonomists, providing adequate salaries, but not enough 

 support for research. , ;; 



