REPORT ON OCEANOGRAPHY 97 



Marine Microbiology, Marine Genetics, Marine Vertebrates, Physical 

 Oceanography, Waves and Currents, Descriptive Oceanography, Special 

 Developments, Submarine Geology, Sediments, and Shore Processes Di- 

 visions, and the Foraminifera, Marine Physical, and Visibility Labora- 

 tories. 



Supporting activities include the Library, Aquarium-Museum, 

 Oceanographic Photography, and Oceanographic Publications. 



Marine Life Research Program 



Jointly with the California Department of Fish and Game, the 

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

 the Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, the Institution parti- 

 cipates in the California Cooperative Sardine Research Program. The 

 Institution's share of this research endeavor is known as the Marine 

 Life Program and has been supported since 1949 by the California 

 Legislature. 



The investigation has placed the greatest emphasis on studying 

 the ecology of the California sardine including its food and life his- 

 tory. The study, however, involves basic research on other pelagic 

 fishes, such as sauries, anchovies, and mackerel; on the pyto- and zoo- 

 plankton; and on the chemical and physical factors operative in the 

 environment. With only a few omissions, monthly cruises have been 

 conducted along the coast of California and Baja California from San 

 Francisco to Cape San Lucas and seaward to distances up to 350 miles. 

 Three ocean-going vessels participate in each cruise. 



University and Foundation Sponsored Research 



There is more or less overlapping of problems with contract re- 

 search. The following can, however, be specifically mentioned: 



1. Comparative biochemical studies of marine animals and their 

 environment. These have involved especially (a) kinds and biological 

 significance of carotenoids, porphyrines, fluorescent pigmients and other 

 biochromes in marine animals, leptopel and buried sediments; (b) ex- 

 change of elements between organisms and the environment including 

 plant nutrients, ionic iodine, vanadium, and calcium, using radioactive 

 isotopes and tracers. 



2. Microbiological research on (a) effect of hydrostatic pressure 

 on bacteria to depths exceeding 7000 meters; (b) sulfate reducing bac- 

 teria; (c) fish diseases. 



3. Nutritional studies on invertebrates, fishes, and seals. 



4. Ecological, taxonomic and zoogeographical studies on certain 

 pelagic invertebrates, deep-sea fishes, and littoral invertebrates, 



5. Life histories of invertebrates and fishes. 



