Edmond Watson

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Oral History Project

Description

The Oral History Project began in 1998 to record the recollections and personal insights of the scientists and staff of the Woods HoleOceanographic Institution. Under the auspices of the Data Library and Archives, the project endeavors to include the entire spectrum of the WHOI community, scientists and engineers, support staff ashore and afloat, and collaborators from other organizations   such as MBL and USGS. 

Since its inception in 1930 the Woods Hole   Oceanographic Institution has grown from what some     had called a summer camp for scientists to a unique,   multi-disciplined, internationally recognized giant in the world of ocean sciences. World famous not only to the international scientific community but to the average  citizen who has thrilled to the many documentaries,   books, and articles featuring the men, women, research and technology that form the backbone of the institution. WHOI represents  a unique group of innovative scientists, engineers, technicians and support staff with the common purpose of gathering, interpreting and communicating an understanding of the ocean.

Interviewer
Date of Interview
04-15-2000
Transcribers

Arel Lucas

Principal Investigator
Biographical Sketch

Edmond Watson is a former hydrographer and research associate who has been involved with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. In the early 1930s, Watson was appointed as a hydrographer on the International Passamaquoddy Fisheries Commission, a project aimed at studying the impact of dam construction on the herring fishery along the East Coast. During this time, Watson became acquainted with Dr. Bigelow, a professor at Harvard who had established the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Dr. Bigelow offered Watson and his team the opportunity to use the institution's facilities for their research, leading them to move to Woods Hole in 1932. In the 1940s, Watson worked on the SOFAR (Sound Fixing and Ranging) project, a secret operation focused on developing a sound-based sea rescue system.

Scope and Content Note
In an interview conducted by Vera Lee Nelson on April 15, 2000, Watson shares his experiences and insights into his early involvement with the institution. The interview provides valuable information about Watson's initial connection to Woods Hole, his work on the International Passamaquoddy Fisheries Commission, and his subsequent collaborations and research at the institution. Watson recalls the diverse group of researchers involved in the commission, including experts in zooplankton, fish, and phytoplankton from the United States, England, and Norway. The interview then shifts to Watson's subsequent visits to Woods Hole. He explains that after his initial year, Dr. Bigelow offered him a research associateship, allowing him to work at Woods Hole during the summers and return to his position at Queens University in the winter. This arrangement proved beneficial as Watson could conduct his research at Queens with support from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. However, with the outbreak of World War II, Watson and his family obtained a year-long leave of absence from Queens and returned to Woods Hole. Watson discusses the challenges of the SOFAR project, particularly the need to place hydrophones at a specific depth in the ocean to receive signals. He explains their choice of Eleuthera, an island similar to Japanese islands, where the war was ongoing. The interview concludes with Watson mentioning that his family remained in Woods Hole while he worked on the project in Eleuthera.


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