20 EIGHTH PACIFIC SCIENCE CONGRESS 



Two international commissions, the International Halibut Com- 

 mission and the International Salmon Commission, both established by 

 treaty between the United States and Canada effectively operate in the 

 conservation and studies of these two fisheries. 



The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Academy of 

 Sciences, Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, the California 

 Fish and Game Commission, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanogra- 

 phy of the University of California, have sponsored the Marine Research 

 Committee, Working with three ships and a large staff this project 

 has observed the currents, the properties of the water, and the marine 

 organisms within a limit of 300 miles off the California coast in connec- 

 tion with studies dealing with the life history and habits of the Cali- 

 fornia sardine. These investigations have also contributed materially 

 to the blue fin tuna. 



The Scripps Institution of Oceanography, located at La Jolla, a 

 part of the University of California, offers a series of graduate courses 

 in practically all of the branches of oceanography. This institution, 

 since the last Congress, has conducted several extensive exploratory expe- 

 ditions over much of the Pacific area. 



In California attention has been given to coastal wind phenomenon, 

 the nature and extent of upwelling, studies of waves, beach erosion, 

 submarine canyons, sea mounts and the various oceanic fisheries. 



The University of Washington with its laboratories in Seattle and 

 at Friday Harbor now offers undergraduate training in oceanography 

 in addition to extensive graduate work. The research activities are 

 primarily concerned with the oceanography of the coastal waters of the 

 State of Washington, and the oceanography of numerous straits, sounds 

 and estuaries. There is considerable cooperation between the Depart- 

 ment of Oceanography and the School of Fisheries. 



Because of the great industrial development and increasing popula- 

 tion, the United States is faced with problems arising from the pollu- 

 tion of coastal waters. Methods of predicting pollution and of utilizing 

 local sea currents to effectively remove such pollution have been devised. 



In general, the United States is examining all phases of oceanog- 

 raphy in their own coastal waters with particular emphasis on the 

 mechanisms of currents, and waves and their variation with season and 

 weather, as well as their relation to fisheries. Detailed studies of the 

 bottom topography, submarine geology, properties of the water, and 

 general oceanographic processes have been conducted. In addition, 

 many transocean expeditions have been and are being made to all parts 

 of the world to increase the knowledge of structure, properties of the 

 water, currents, depths, bottom material and marine organisms. 



