OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 179 



Captain Metsger. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Oliver. And the Navy has taken the lead in that ? 

 Captain Metsger. Yes, sir ; that is true, and Mr. Lill is very active 

 in that work. 



Mr. Oliver. Is there any indication that if it were made a more 

 formal organization that there might be more constructive efl'orts 

 toward getting something done sooner about the expansion of ocean- 

 ographic research work in the Govei'nment ? 



Captain Metsger. I feel that this committee is adequately formal 

 and that indeed much of its effectiveness comes from the voluntary 

 interest that exists in the committee. I feel that it is probably as well 

 established now as it could be. 



In any event, a legislative basis would be no help for it, sir. 

 Mr. Oliver. Would it make a stronger and more effective base from 

 which to try to effectuate increased appropriations based upon the 

 recommendations, for example, of the committee of scientists, namely, 

 to the extent at least of, I think, something like $60 million a 3^ear for 

 the next 10 years as the program that they had outlined? Would a 

 more direct approach, a more formal approach make more possible 

 perhaps the dollar results that are necessary to get more expansion 

 in this research effort? 



Captain Metsger. It might be possible, sir. However, I would like 

 to have a try along the present lines. 



I think that we are making good progress as we are going and I 

 hope we can continue in this way until we find either that we succeed 

 or fail. 



I think we should succeed. If we do not, then we must tiy another 

 approach. 



Mr. Oli\t:r. What was bothering me was whether or not the ap- 

 proach is too scattered, whether or not we should concentrate more 

 through some formal legislative setup to press forward perhaps the 

 dollar appropriations that are obviously required. 



Captain Metsger. I wonder if I might ask Mr. Lill to give you 

 his feelings on this subject while the question is up, sir. 

 Mr. Oliver. Very good. 



Mr. Miller. Wait a minute. Will you withhold that until Mr. Lill 

 testifies ? We have Mr. Curtin over here. Captain, who may want to 

 ask you questions, and we will keep the continuity. 

 Mr. Curtin. I have no questions. 

 Mr. Miller. Counsel? 

 Mr. Drewry. I have no questions. 



Mr. Miller. Captain, following what Mr. Oliver has said, we know 

 that the Brown committee recommended expenditure of a sum of 

 money over the next 10 years. We loiow we can get good cooperation 

 among Government agencies until it comes to saying, "Who is going 

 to put up the money?" There is no question in my mind that this 

 voluntary committee is working now but who is going to determine 

 who is going to supply the number of boats, the equipment, the labora- 

 tories that are necessary to carry out this job? How are we going 

 to divide that budgetwise ? 



Wlien you get down to that veiy practical aspect, I would like you 

 to tell us, not today, but you can send a memorandum to the committee, 

 if you will, as to whether or not a voluntary committee is going to be 

 effective under those conditions. 



