OCEANOGRAPHY 31 



on tlie Baltic Sea. Considering the distance from Moscow, and the Soviet effort 

 that has been expended in the Pacitic Ocean and bordering seas, the expansion 

 and construction of facilities should be expected in the Far East during the next 

 several years. 



The number of Soviet oceanographers, excluding marine biologists and fish- 

 eries researchers, is greater than 500. The total of their professional ocean- 

 ographers is estimated as high as SOO to 900. The greatest expansion of man- 

 power probably took place when the Soviet Union expanded its program to par- 

 ticipate in the International Geophysical Year. Many of the oceanographers 

 are young and lack experience, a partial explanation for the placing of the 

 great numbers of scientific personnel on the large ocean research ships. How- 

 ever, the quality of these young scientists should improve from the experience 

 being gained from present shipboard research and the analyses of data col- 

 lected since the International Geophysical Year. It seems that quality rather 

 than quantity of scientists is now needed in the Soviet Union. 



The present research effort is oriented toward applications. Even the basic 

 research conducted at the institutes of the Academy of Sciences tends to be di- 

 rected towards ultimate applications. The institutes subordinate to ministries 

 direct their research to support the efforts of the parent organizations. Polar 

 and deep-sea oceanographie research are the strongest areas in the Soviet pro- 

 gram. Continued and intensive scientific activity in arctic regions to develop 

 the northern sea route has achieved a leading position in arctic (K-eanography 

 for the Soviet Union : and the oi>erations of the research fleet throughout the 

 oceans of the world have shown an impressive ability to collect oceanographie 

 data. High quality work also has been conducted in biology and fisheries re- 

 search, marine geolcgy, and seismology-, particularly in conjunction with deei> 

 sea research. The work in other areas of oceanographie research generally has 

 not been of comparable quality. There is no information available concerning 

 their military research efforts in oceanography. As the oceanographers gain ex- 

 perience, the quality of the researr-h sh( nld generally impr'tre within the next 

 several years 



It is generally conceded that the present size and tue rate of expansion of the 

 Soviet manpower and ships for oceanographie research are considerably greater 

 than those of the United States, and p<issibly of the entire free world. Their 

 oceanographie research, ratetl as excellent in some fields of the science, is gen- 

 erally not as scientifically comprehensive as that of the United States. Dur- 

 ing the IGY their effort consisted of a well-rounded, exploratory-type program 

 to c(^llec-t basic information about the characteristics of the seas and oceans of 

 the world. It did mtich to inci-ease the stature of the U.S.S.R. among the world 

 leaders in oceanography as well as to provide scientific stipix»rt for the Soviet 

 e«'onomic and political aspirations. 



Mr. Oliver. Is it not true that the So\dets have a very aggressive 

 program, particularly in the fisheries area ? 



Mr. Wakelin. They do, indeed. 



Mr. OLrv^R. Is it not true that this is perhaps adaptable to military 

 information, and advantages are gained by reason of these many ships 

 and activities that they are carrying on ? 



Mr. Wakelin. Yes, they have, Mr. Oliver. They have over 100 

 ships engaged in oceanographie work and fisheries together. Of 

 course, the major proportion of their efforts were apparent during 

 the International Geophysical Year. This was the first chance we had 

 to look at the magnitude of their program. 



Mr. Oliver. This is apparenty an expanding program on really an 

 aggressive basis. I do not mean aggression. The program is expand- 

 ing almost beyond any conception of what we may have. 



Mr. Wakelin. They are putting a lot of effort behind all aspects of 

 oceanography, I would think not only in basic research and surveys 

 but in biological and fisheries sides, too. 



Mr. Oliver. This brings me to this point : In the light of that and 

 also in view of what our chairman has spoken about, another com- 

 mittee of Congress which is talking about multimillions of dollars for 



