371 



Mr. Drewrv. In other words, the problem is not so much with the 

 saLary but rather inadequacy of funds for the overhead, shall we say, 

 or the materials or the laboratory space or whatever ? 



Dr. Gatxer, Correct. This is peculiarly true of the Federal or quasi- 

 Federal agencies. In the university hierarchy we find that there does 

 not exist any real salary parity between most taxonomists and their 

 colleagues in some of the other better known, more glamorous fields of 

 scientific endeavor, and as a consequence, young people are not en- 

 couraged to move into taxonomy as a lifetime career. 



Mr. Drewry. Is this an area where the sea-grant college program 

 could be helpful in stimulating interest ? 



Dr. Galler. It could, indeed. It could make a tremendous contribu- 

 tion, Mr. Drewry. 



Mr. Drewry. Does industry use taxonomists in any extent? I re- 

 member I was recently down at Houston and saw a remarkable ma- 

 chine for analyzing fossils. I would assume that the oil industry must 

 be concerned about this type of thing, and I would assume that prob- 

 ably ESSO Production Kesearch Corp. would probably have some 

 taxonomists on hand. 



Dr. Galler. They have, indeed, I would say. My guess is that our 

 petroleum and geophysical exploration industry represents the largest 

 industrial user of taxonomists. But they employ taxonomists that are 

 already trained and experienced and have usually come up through the 

 academic ladder. 



I don't believe that they make substantial investments in the educa- 

 tion and training of taxonomists. 



Mr. Drewry. That was my next question. Should industry be en- 

 couraged and can industry be encouraged to speak out for and provide 

 greater support for an incentive for a young man to go into this field ? 



Dr. Galler. I think there is that possibility, Mr. Drewry, provided 

 that industry is encouraged to recognize that it has divested interest 

 in taxonomists and taxonomic information. 



For example, the Commission report invites special attention to the 

 potential of drugs from the sea, the pharmacologically active sub- 

 stances that are derivable from a variety of marine organisms. Here 

 is where taxonomy must play a key role in identifying and classify- 

 ing important organisms and informing other kinds of scientists, si^ch 

 as pharmacologists about the life cycle and the ecology as clues to the 

 potential value of an animal or plant as antibiotic sources. 



Our recreational industry has to be encouraged to recognize that they 

 depend heavily on taxonomic information both to identify economi- 

 cally important sports fishes as well as to identify potentially danger- 

 ous fishes like sharks. Until recently we had a National Shark Re- 

 search Panel that provided our country with much taxonomic infor- 

 mation about sharks. However, it has faded out because of lack of 

 support. 



Mr. Drewt?y. Thank you very much. Dr. Galler, and thank you, 

 Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you very much. Dr. Galler. 



