104 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



Mr. McKernan. No. I am of the opinion that no matter what the 

 budget was that very shortly or at the present time I would recom- 

 mend laying up the Albatross anyway because we need a research 

 boat in New England that is designed for the purpose of oceano- 

 graphic and marine biological work and the Albatross is not. It has 

 never been a good research boat. These conversions never are and 

 the Albatross is worse than most of them that we have in this regard, 

 so that it has never been a good boat. It is far beyond its useful age 

 and its effective operations have been limited in comparison to our 

 other good research boats wliich are also old, by the way, most of 

 them. Most of them are conversions. So that, if we had the funds, 

 Mr. Congressman, at the present time I would recommend laying up 

 the Albatross, so that the funds problem is unportant but it is not 

 the real factor. These things pile up on you. 



We have delayed laying up the Albatross now for about 3 or 4 

 years, and at some time or another this particular decision must be 

 made. 



It so happened that at the present time we were confronted with 

 budgetary problems with these increasing costs. We felt that we 

 could more effectively operate the Delaware than it has been possible 

 to operate her by chartering her in an intrabureau manner and get the 

 very maximum use out of one boat. Then, by more efficienly using 

 our scientific staff, work up back data and the data that the Delaware 

 will collect. 



It seems to us with the present funds this is the best way to operate. 



Mr. Flynn. By the same reasoning, \^hy did you not lay up the 

 other outmoded vessels that you speak off ? 



Mr. McKernan. In no instance that I know of are the vessels oper- 

 ating in the same inefficient manner and with the same budget prob- 

 lems that we had in New England at this time. 



Mr. Flynn. For the record, so that you will know the reason for 

 my question, I am deeply concerned over what I believe is a tendency 

 to have inefficient operation of necessary departments under the guise 

 of a balanced budget. I am interested in determining whether or not 

 we are getting an efficient and a proper operation of the Department 

 or whether it is being sacrificed because of an attempt to save money 

 and balance the budget. 



Do you feel, in the nature of my question, that you have had allotted 

 to you in your budget enough money to efficiently and competently 

 operate your Department for the year ? 



Mr. McKernan. Yes. 



Mr. Flynn. Do you feel that your Department can do all of the 

 oceanographic research that you should do ? 



Mr. McKernan. No. 



Mr. Flynn. Do you feel that if you had a greater budget you could 

 perform a greater service in this oceanographic research ? 



Mr. McKernan. Yes. 



Mr. Flynn. Do you feel that you need another boat to perform 

 this work? 



Mr. McKernan. Eventually we do. For the time being I think 

 that the present plans tliat our staff have organized and have pre- 

 sented to me are sufficient to carry on the essential work and to allow 

 efficient operation, and I want to assure you, Mr. Congressman, that 



