44 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



that oceanography is directly or indirectly benefited by research in many institu- 

 tions that are not included in the present tabulation. This includes work in basic 

 disciplines and also in related interdisciplinary fields such as geophysics, geochem- 

 istry and meteorology. The contribution from such sources is probably about 

 equal to the missing 27 percent in the subjective estimate mentioned above. The 

 figures included in this report established the amount that oceanographic institu- 

 tions spend on activities that they consider worth supporting, and this, after all, 

 is the only practical way to look at the matter. 



Growth of oceanography 



Finally, it is of considerable interest to determine the rate of growth of 

 oceanography in the immediate past as an indication of what might be expected 

 in the future. Information was obtained from Hiatt's "Directory of Hydro- 

 biological Laboratories" which was compiled during the fiscal year 1953. As an 

 additional check an abstract of the comparative information for 1953 and 1958 

 was sent to the directors of 28 of the laboratories for which data from both 

 years were available. Each director was asked to confirm or change the data 

 to represent as nearly as possible the real change over this 5-year period. 



The laboratories in question listed a total expenditure of about $8 million in 

 1953 and $14 million in 1958 — an increase of 76 percent. The question immedi- 

 ately arises as to how much of this increase represents real growth and how 

 much is simply inflation. Some data on the 1953-58 inflationary factor can be 

 obtained by examining research proposals in the files of the Oflice of Naval 

 Research. They indicate that the increase in salaries for various grades of stafE 

 members at various laboratories ranged from 20 to 80 percent during this time 

 interval with the majority of percent increases for the largest number of staff 

 members ranging between 30 and 40 percent. A similar review of ship operating 

 costs showed an increase of between 40 and 50 percent. The study further 

 revealed that the funds spent by private research laboratories are devoted ap- 

 proximately one-third to ship operating costs ; one-third to salaries ; and one- 

 third to equipment, travel, overhead, and other items. In the latter group, in- 

 flation has been slightly less extreme than in the first two. Nevertheless, the 

 analysis suggests an inflationary factor of at least 30 percent and possibly more, 

 and the real growth might therefore be of the order of 30 to 45 percent in 5 

 years. This is probably a slower rate of growth than that of the early postwar 

 years when the formation of new laboratories (table 1) occurred more rapidly 

 than in any other period before or since. The present rate of growth is more 

 in keeping with the ability of the science to produce new oceanographers and 

 to supply the ship and shore facilities that they require. An increase of 30 to 



45 percent in 5 years is equivalent to 70 to 110 percent in 10 years. The rec- 

 ommendation for doubling of oceanographic research in the next 10 years con- 

 tained in the first chapter of this report therefore seems well within our capabil- 

 ities and in line with a moderate acceleration of our present rate of growth. 



Mr. Miller. Admiral Karo, we are very happy to welcome you 

 here. You come as an old friend. This committee is not new to you. 

 We are very happy to see you. 



STATEMENT OF REAR ADM. H. ARNOLD KARO, DIRECTOR, COAST 

 AND GEODETIC SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 



Admiral Karo. Chairman Bonner, Chairman Miller, and members 

 of the committee, I am Rear Adm. H. Arnold Karo, Director of the 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey of the Department of Commerce. 



Incidentally, Secretary Allen, one of your old colleagues, asked me 

 to present his compliments to the committee and his best wishes for 

 success. 



Just as a matter of interest to some of you whom I liave not met 

 before, I am a native Nebraskan. I was «>:r;uliiuto(l from tho Uni- 

 versity of Nebraska in 1923 in civil engnieeriii^r. I imnuMliately 

 entered into the service of the Coast Survey, which ahnost totals 36 

 year, and I have had 23 years at sea, so that I feel 1 know a little of 

 some of the problems facing us. 



