OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 391 



Mr. Miller. I wish you would look into your records because since 

 this matter of disposal has come up, my memory was awakened yes- 

 terday to an incident on the Pacific coast where they got rid of some 

 mustard gas that had been stored there. They loaded a Liberty ship, 

 took her out to sea, and sank her. They afterwards disposed of some 

 700 tons of this in containers. Some of it was mustard gas. I can- 

 not give you the chemical formula for mustard gas, but I am certain 

 Mr. Oliver and I at one time had to train with mustard gas. 



Not being a chemist or a biologist, I have no idea what would happen 

 50 years from now when these containers rust through and release a 

 lot of this stuff into the sea. What will happen to the fish life ? 



Mr. McEjernan. I believe I remember the occasion. I want to 

 assure you we did not give permission for that disposal. I also confess 

 and I suspect that there is in this vast maze of Government some lack 

 of coordination in this respect, but I might add that the activities of 

 this conmiittee and this report on oceanography has done a great deal 

 to bring together the interests of the various departments of Govern- 

 ment in coordinating their activities. 



Mr. Miller. Without asking you to commit yourself, I would like 

 to have you think about the introduction of a bill to give the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service the authority to veto the dumping of wastes at sea 

 where they were inimical to fish life and perhaps require agencies of 

 Government and others to come to you to get that permission before 

 doing it. 



Mr. McKernan. I believe the amendment to the Coordination Act 

 passed by Congress last year does help us in this respect. It does 

 require other departments to consult with us on activities which affect 

 the fish and wildlife resources. I believe that will help us in this 

 particular problem of offshore disposition of wastes. 



Mr. Miller. Are they doing it now ? 



Mr. McKernan. Yes. This comes slowly because these things do 

 not filter down to people in Government too rapidly, but, in general, 

 I get the impression that all departments are anxious to cooperate in 

 this respect. It takes some time before this can be fully activated, I 

 confess, but I do not see any effort in any of the departments to circum- 

 vent this particular law. 



Mr. Miller. Would it not strengthen your hand if we did have very 

 positive regulation of this matter ? 



Mr. McIvernan. Yes. 



Mr. Miller. Are there further questions ? Thank you very much, 

 sir. I want to tell you we appreciate your being here. It is always 

 nice to see you. 



Mr. MgIvernan. Thank you, sir. 



Mr. Chapman. Mr. Chairman, before you leave, I just wonder if 

 the committee's work has advanced far enough that it desires receiv- 

 ing testimony from the fishing industry. The reason for my inquiry is 

 that I will be in town for a week or so, and the tuna industry, of course, 

 and all the fishing industry in the State of California have a deep and 

 abiding interest in this program. 



Mr. Miller. Doctor, we have in mind getting to you. ^''' 

 several agencies of Government to hear from. TTnforti^'^ 

 rather handicapped. As you know, we have to go aro'. 

 hearing rooms. That has held us up some. I want t 



