200 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



Finally, in acting as a central clearinghouse for oceanographic 

 information within the Defense Establishment, the Hydrographic 

 Office has played a major role and is in a position to expand its serv- 

 ice greatly. I have mentioned the application of punchcard tech- 

 niques to the storage and analysis of surface oceanographic obser- 

 vations which began in the WPA days. We have extended these 

 techniques to the analysis of subsurface data as well, and bj^ the use 

 of advanced electicnic computers have greatlj^ reduced not only the 

 labor required to work up the data of an oceanographic cruise but 

 the time needed to publish a complete report. Whereas by the tradi- 

 tional methods it usually requires at least 6 months and not uncom- 

 monly as long as 7 years after a cruise before the data are published 

 in a form suitable for other oceanographers to use, one oceanographic 

 laboratory in this country sends a portable cardpuncher to sea on its 

 cruises, the oceanographer brings ashore not data sheets but a box of 

 cards, and the fully computed results, reproduced by facsimile from 

 the machine tabulations, are ready for circulation in less than a month, 



I understand that the Coordinating Coimnittee on Oceanography 

 is now considering a recommendation by one of its working groups 

 that the Hydrographic Office, which now has over a million subsurface 

 oceanographic observations, and is the largest collection of its kind 

 in the world, be converted into a national data center for oceanog- 

 raphy, such as the National Weather Records Center at Asheville, 

 N.C., which provides a central meteorological data sei-vic-e for the 

 country. Such a center, once space and machines are made available^ 

 can be operated on a self-supporting basis. 



I would like to extend a cordial invitation to this subcommittee, or 

 any of its members, to visit the Hydrographic Office at any time that 

 may be convenient to them and to observe the processes involved in 

 production. Besides our oceanographic activities, we are engaged in 

 a number of programs in direct support of merchant shipping that I 

 am sure 3^ou would find of interest. 



In conclusion, may I take this opportunity to state that the Hydro- 

 graphic Office greatly appreciates the support which the Congress 

 has given it over the past 12 years for developing its oceanographic 

 organization. Without this support, we would have been unable tf> 

 attain the present state of development, which we feel enhances our 

 defense posture and offers a firm base for future expansion. It is an 

 effort which has and will continue to contribute to our defense and 

 which measurably assists our merchant marine. 



Mr. Miller. Thank you. Captain, for a very enlightening state- 

 ment. I think that the Hydrographic Office of the Navy is to be con- 

 gratulated for the work that it has done. I know it appreciates the 

 desirability of expanding this work and coordinating it with other 

 agencies of Government. 



Have you any suggestion as to wdiat this committee can do to fur- 

 ther this work ? 



Captain Munson. I have, sir. My answer must necessarily be 

 incomplete because we believe that the national effort in oceanography 

 must he well planned. 



We realize tliat the complete report of the committee working under 

 the National Academy of Sciences, headed by Dr. Harrison Brown, of 

 the California Institute of Technology, has not been issued. Fn- 



