Shale Jack Niskin (June 18, 1926 – April 1988) was the inventor of the Niskin bottle, a device used for collecting water samples. He also founded General Oceanics, Inc. in 1966 and served as the company's first president. General Oceanics, based in North Miami, Florida, manufactures oceanographic and environmental monitoring equipment. References General Oceanics, Inc. website Green Gazelles: General Oceanics, Inc. 1926 births 1988 deaths American chief executives 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American engineers 20th-century American inventors