OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1959 



House of Representatives, 

 Subcommittee on Oceanography of the 

 Committee on IVIerchant IVIarine and Fisheries, 



Washington^ D.G. 

 The subcommittee met at 10 a.m. in room 214B New House Office 

 Building, Hon. George P. Miller (chairman of the subcommittee) 

 presiding. 



Mr. Miller. The committee will be in order. 



I am very happy to greet the gentleman from the northernmost and 

 westernmost State among the United States, our new brother from 

 Alaska, Mr. Rivers. 



Mr. Rivers, I believe you have a statement to make. 



STATEMENT OF HON. RALPH J. RIVEES, A REPRESENTATIVE AT 

 LARGE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ALASKA 



Mr. Rivers. Mr, ChaiiTnan and members of the subcommittee, I 

 appreciate the opportunity to be heard on the highly important and 

 timely subject of oceanography. Now that the West is conquered and 

 Alaska has become a State, our thoughts of frontiers have changed 

 from the conception of misettled wilderness to the concept of the fron- 

 tiers of science, which will certainly include exploration of the ocean, 

 its submarine life and other resources, and its potential as a thorough- 

 fare for enemy underwater craft which may eventually force our coun- 

 try to fight battles under the sea. 



Not being a scientist, I am not capable of contributing technical 

 material at this hearing. It is, however, my pleasure to submit to you 

 a letter and statement sent to me by Mr. C. L. Anderson, the commis- 

 sioner of Alaska's Department of Fish and Game. Mr. Anderson 

 points out that his department of fish and game is already conducting 

 oceanographic research at Kitoi Bay with operations based at its 

 research station of Afognak Island near Kodiak, Alaska. The pro- 

 gram of the State of Alaska has particular reference to the biological 

 resources of the sea, which will be an important phase of any overall 

 oceanography program. I call the attention of this committee to the 

 fact that my State has its oceanography program imderway and its 

 research station established, and that such program and station, with 

 Federal implementation, could be expanded and thereby serve a useful 

 purpose toward carrying out the objectives toward which these hear- 

 ings are directed. 



Mr. Anderson's letter and statement, addressed to me under date of 

 July 11, 1959, are hereby submitted as part of my remarks. 



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