OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 205 



priorities among the different systems involved. That is readily rec- 

 ognized but the Hydrographic Office, in fact all of this oceanographic 

 effort as I understand from all the testimony we have had so far, will 

 be available, for the use of all who might be interested in it whether it 

 be in the fisheries or merchant marine. 



Captain Munson. This is true, sir. 



May I make one reservation there ? There are a number of facets 

 of it which are so closely and tightly related to the operation of some 

 secure weapons systems that it is not releasable at present. 



Mr. Drewry. I understand. 



Captain Munson. We are learning however, to a certain degree, to 

 generalize it, extract and otherwise safeguard it. 



Mr. Drewry. My point is that what is being learned right now is 

 still a very elemental and fractional part of the total knowledge that 

 will ultimately be extracted from it. 



Captain Munson. It certainly is. We know little more about the 

 ocean than where it is. 



Mr. Drewry. In any complex scientific development, the greater 

 cost is in the initial stages ; is that true ? 



Captain Munson. Usually, sir, it is particularly in an operation of 

 this sort where I have explained that the principal tool of oceanogra- 

 phy is a ship. Your processing cost to turn this data into the usable 

 system is very modest compared with the data collection effort. 



Mr. Drew^ry. Then, as you develop the basic data in several fields, 

 they each will have a relation to the other that will make future in- 

 formation easier to acquire ? 



Captain Munson. This is true. There seems to be a very fine cross 

 fertilization. We are getting benefits in oceanography from the 

 literally explosive effort in missiles and the electronic art because we 

 are taking advantage of developed engineering components that are 

 perfected in these other fields. 



Mr. Drewry. The point I am trying to develop is, is it not true that 

 tliis coordinating effort which has been reconmiended by the National 

 Academy of Sciences and which is being worked on through this in- 

 formal group is a case of where, however the appropriations might 

 have to come, the whole picture is being benefited by the money that 

 is put into it 'i 



Captain Munson. It certainly is, sir. 



Mr. Drewry. So that, per dollar spent, it is not merely a question 

 of the Navy or the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries but for every 

 dollar that is spent on this the benefit is distributed t^ a number of 

 other Government agencies and ultimately to industry ? 



Captain Munson. We most certainly agree to this, sir. It is prov- 

 ing, tus products come out, to be extremely beneficial to our whole 

 economy. 



Mr. Drewry. That is all, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Miller. ISIr. Chaimian, I welcome you here. 



Have you any questions? 



The Chairman. No, sir. 



Captain Munson. Mr. Miller, if there are no further questions at 

 this time, if I may, we would like to present some of the products of 

 the Office. It would take but a few minutes. 



Mr. Miller. Do you want to do that in executive session ? 



