LETTER 1 filename1.txt Mail Stop 0510 February 18, 2005 By U.S. mail and facsimile to (508) 563-6444 Mr. Ronald L. Marsiglio President and Chief Executive Officer Benthos, Inc. 49 Edgerton Drive North Falmouth, MA 02556 RE: Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 Form 10-QSB for the quarterly period ended January 2, 2005 File No. 000-29024 Dear Mr. Marsiglio: We have reviewed your response letter dated February 15, 2005 to our letter dated January 25, 2005 and have the following comment. Note 1(h) - Operations and Significant Accounting Policies: Revenue Recognition, page F-9 1. We have reviewed your response to comment 6. We note that your research and development contracts "are primarily with the Federal government and do not obligate the Company to repay any of the funding if efforts are not successful." In addition, you have stated that these "are primarily best efforts contracts to provide research services on a cost plus fixed fee basis." Please tell us the consideration you gave to the factors listed in paragraph 3.53 of the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guides - Audit of Federal Government Contractors in concluding that these contracts should be accounted for as revenue rather than as an offset to your research and development expense. Please refer to paragraphs 3.50 - 3.54 of the Audit Guide. * * * * Please respond to this comment within 10 business days, or tell us when you will provide us with a response. Please provide us with a supplemental response letter that keys your responses to our comments and provides any requested supplemental information. Detailed letters greatly facilitate our review. Please file your supplemental response on EDGAR as a correspondence file. Please understand that we may have additional comments after reviewing your response to our comment. We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in the filings reviewed by the staff to be certain that they have provided all information investors require for an informed decision. Since the company and its management are in possession of all facts relating to a company`s disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosures they have made. In connection with responding to our comments, please provide, in writing, a statement from the company acknowledging that: * the company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; * staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and * the company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. In addition, please be advised that the Division of Enforcement has access to all information you provide to the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance in our review of your filing or in response to our comments on your filing. If you have any questions regarding these comments, please direct them to Ryan Rohn, Staff Accountant, at (202) 824-5525 or, in his absence, to Scott Watkinson, Staff Accountant at (202) 942- 2926, or the undersigned at (202) 942-1798. Sincerely, John Hartz Senior Assistant Chief Accountant ?? ?? ?? ?? Mr. Ronald L. Marsiglio Benthos, Inc. February 18, 2005 Page 2 of 2 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-0510 DIVISION OF CORPORATION FINANCE