284 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



coastal waters where seaweeds are found, the sea never supports 

 the dense popuLations found m forests or grasslands, let alone those 

 artificially developed through agriculture. The forests represent an 

 accumulation of 50 years or more of growth, while even grasslands and 

 farm crops accumulate over one entire growing season. In contrast, 

 maximum populations in the ocean can develop in a few days when the 

 conditions are right. Wlien we compare the rates of production, there- 

 fore, the total photosynthesis taking place in the ocean is approxi- 

 mately equal to that which takes place on land. 



This brief summary of our activities omits many of the problems 

 being studied by our biologists and chemists. For example, what 

 is the vertical distribution of animals in the sea? We know that 

 populations migrate upward to the surface at night and downward 

 during daylight. Presumably this is a response to sunlight, but what 

 organisms are involved and what is the physiological control of this 

 migration ? What effect does this migration have upon the distribution 

 of the essential nutrient chemicals in the sea? Especially how will 

 this migration affect the distribution of radioactive elements added 

 to the sea, through fallout, waste disposal, or accidental additions? 

 These and many other questions will require a complete understanding 

 of the biology and chemistry of the sea before answers can be given. 



(Matter referred to follows :) 



Fields of study of the Mologists and chemists on the resident staff of the Woods 



Hole Oceanographic Institution 

 Field of study: Personnel 



Penetration of light 2 



Bacteriology 2 



Phytoplankton : 



Photosynthesis and culture 5 



Distribution and composition 3 



Zooplankton : 



Feeding and nutrition 2 



Distribution and migrations 4 



Fish : Distribution and life cycles 3 



Mammals : Whales and porpoises 1 



Bottom populations : 



Distribution and ecology 3 



General physiology 2 



Nutrient chemistry and fertility : 



Seasonal cycles 3 



Geographical distribution 3 



Geochemistry and radiochemistry 3 



Mr. Chairman. The last witness will be Mr. Earl E. Hays. 

 STATEMENT OF EARL E. HAYS 



Mr. Hays. The underwater acoustics and geophysics group at the 

 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution numbers about 50 people, of 

 whom about one-half hold college degrees in scientific curricula. This 

 is the largest group in the institution working on a common problem : 

 the problem being sucli that it requires a large number of people to 

 make the necessary mea.surcments, reduce the data, and maintain the 

 equipment. The group is primarily interested in the propagation of 



