OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 109 



The Government and the country has gained a great deal of infor- 

 mation and a great advancement that it would not have been able to 

 make otherwise but tliis still does not make for an eiScient operation or 

 efficient oceanographic and marine biological research. 



Mr. Drewry. What is the reason for that inefficiency ? 



Mr. McKernan. Well, she was designed for other purposes. For 

 example, the position of winches for the operation of various kinds 

 of experimental fishing gear and for the conduct of ocean research is 

 not the best. For example, it is much better to have laboratories on 

 research vessels right directly amidships so that the roll of the 

 vessel will not detract from chemical tests and reading burettes. It 

 is not possible on a boat that is ready made for another purpose to re- 

 design it to get the proper uses. 



The matter of fresh water, the matter of general accommodations 

 for scientists and crews which have to carry out their functions in 

 unique ways on research vessels is never good in these converted boats. 

 I have had this experience on the west coast also and I think it is 

 the general opinion of scientists throughout the world that these 

 conversions are poor second choices. 



Our Government had a lot of these vessels in the early forties and 

 there was a great temptation to get these vessels by research agencies 

 that were otherwise strapped for funds. 



We were no exception. That is, we thought we were getting a 

 good bargain by getting a boat for a dollar and I think that we have 

 made good use of this vessel, and I say that in all seriousness, but 

 nevertheless, all of us realize now that at best you get pretty second 

 rate efficiency in operation from the very begimiing. 



Tlien as the boat gets older and older, the little things that are 

 sort of bothersome at first when the vessel is newer but that you put 

 up with become more and more cumbersome and efficient opera- 

 tions become more and more difficult. 



Mr. Drewry. She was lengthened, was she not ? 



Mr. McKernan. She was lengthened. 



Mr. Drewry. The lengthening process was by cutting her through 

 the middle and putting in the new midsection ? 



Mr. McKernan. Yes. 



Mr. Drewry. Did I understand you to say that that conversion 

 work was done by you ? 



Mr. McKernan. No ; not that lengthening. The conversion work 

 from a Navy boat to an oceanographic boat was done by us but the 

 section was put in there in 1941. This was before we had her. The 

 conversion to a research boat, however, was 1948, and we did that. 



Mr. Drewry. You kept her up to Coast Guard standards and sub- 

 ject to Coast Guard inspection ? 



Mr. McKernan. Yes. 



Mr. Drewtry. In fact, I believe you mentioned that this larger 

 amount in 1957 was due to a Coast Guard survey. 



Mr. McKernan. Yes. 



Mr. Drewry. I believe you also mentioned that you kept her up 

 to American Bureau of Shippmg standards ? 



Mr. McKJERNAN. Yes, I believe we have American Bureau of 

 Shipping Certificate. 



Mr. Drewry. Is she actually classed by the American Bureau ? 



