268 



OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



the U.S. Nav3^ The composition of the WHOI fleet is shown in table 



III. 



Tarle III. — WHOI research fleet 



1 For total displacement see table in "Short History of WHOI" by Dr. Iselin. 

 > Open day launch. 



It has been repeatedly stated that the research vessel Atlantis is the 

 only oceanographic research ship in this country specially designed 

 for research at sea. She was built for $218,000 in 1930-31 and has 

 proved to be a most capable vessel. Oceanography has, however, 

 grown along with other sciences over the intervening years and now 

 the use of modern electronics, isotopes, and the like have outgrown the 

 capacity of sailing ships such as the Atlantis. Our best marine ad- 

 visers indicate for reasons of safety and efficiency that it will be neces- 

 sary to lay up the Atlantis in June of 1960. We have made an inten- 

 sive study of research vessels and our specific requirements. It is our 

 hope that the artist's conception shown on the frontispiece of this 

 statement can be implemented into a vessel on the building ways be- 

 fore the Atlantis is decommissioned. 



The rest of our fleet over the years has been made up of converted 

 yachts and military vessels. Its present composition is shown in table 

 III. These have been of invaluable assistance during war emergencies 

 and when no other means were available for research. But they are 

 indeed poor substitutes for vessels specially designed for our work. 

 The USNS Chain recommissioned in November 1958 is proving to be 

 an excellent addition to our fleet and the present extended cruise to 

 the eastern Mediterranean is an indication of her capabilities. Her 

 capacity for 28 scientists is a welcome innovation in U.S. research 



