OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 305 



the bottom of the ocean which we cannot do very well at the moment. 

 The deepest cores to date, as Mr. Lill said, average about 30 feet and 

 occasionally one gets up to a little bit more. These reach back in geo- 

 logic time but beyond that the depths of the ocean are a complete 

 mystery to us. Since virtually all, or, at least, a great deal of the 

 undersea evolution took place roughly 400 million years before that, 

 obviously there is a great deal missing in our records of geologic 

 occurrences. If this is going to be found anyplace on earth, it is 

 very likely to be found in the deep sea. 



We have this combination of objectives which are both scientific and 

 technical and which have some practical applications as well as a great 

 many scientific implications involved in all of the things that we 

 scientists need to know. 



Mr. Miller. I think that is a very fine statement. 



Of course, if we seem to stress what practical application may come 

 of this, it is really because when you go before the Appropriation 

 Committee of Congress to get money, it is veiy liard to sell them on 

 the idea of pure science. ISomebody is going to want to know what 

 are we gettmg out of it ? 



I am satisfied personally that there is a lot to leani. 



Mr. Bascom. I do not know. 



Mr. Miller. We liave great salt beds out in San Francisco Bay that 

 Westvaco is developing. They are sources of non-ferrous metals and 

 chemicals there. 



How do we know that after you get down to the bottom of this 

 think we may find new deix)sits of minerals. Certainly they are in 

 the sea water, but where do they come from? Do they ever pre- 

 cipitate ? 



Wlio knows till we get down and take a look at them ? 



Anyway, it might be very valuable. 



I was just wondering whether Captain Hess would like to say any- 

 thing on that. 



Mr. Oliver. Mr. Chairanan, before that, I would like to make this 

 comment : I, too, join wath you in your commendation of this state- 

 ment which Mr. Bascom has just made. 



You have indicated that in appearing before an Appropriations 

 Committee of the Congress, it is a very practical matter and I am 

 sure that you appreciate that. 



Mr. Bascom. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Oliver. I think that what you have said is going to be very 

 helpful to those of us who would like to encourage this project. 



Mr. Miller. Captain, would you like to say anything ? 



STATEMENT OF DR. HAREY H. HESS, DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY, 

 PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, PRINCETON, N.J. 



Mr. Hess. I think really what we should stress is how little we 

 know about the earth or any celestial body. This is probably the 

 best way to find out and at the present time we are dragging along 

 on a hypothesis that the earth is like a meteorite. Maybe meteorites 

 are only the outer skin of the moon or some other celestial body, but 

 there is a great advance to be made in science if we know what these 

 planets are made of. 



