OCEANOGRAPHY 71 



the big question before this committee was, "What is the next step to 

 bring this ah^rming situation in tlie lack of oceanographic informa- 

 tion to the attention of Congress and the people ? What are we going 

 to do about it? We have come up with this fine report. What is 

 our next move?" The decision was to bring it to the attention of 

 Congress and that is what has been done and I think you people have 

 done a tremendous job on it. As a matter of fact, on a routine trans- 

 fer of one of our ships from Seattle to Washington, as a result of 

 your committee's work and the interest of the National Academy, we 

 made this a cooperative program with other agencies and extended 

 it up to jDractically a 3-montli oceanographic investigation. 



I think the committees of Congress and the National Academy pro- 

 moted this. 



This is the sort of thing we need. 



How we are going to continue this emphasis, I do not know but I 

 think that anything that can be done to point up the need is fine. 



Mr, Miller. I am glad to hear you say this. I do not know what 

 part we played in it. I am certain that the work of the National 

 Acadpmy in pointing out the problem perhaps helped bring tliis 

 about, but this is the problem with which we are confronted novv' and 

 we have to turn to you people who are experts in this line to assist us 

 in solving this problem. It is very easy to state the problem but 

 sometimes getting the soluion is a little hard. 



Admiral Pierce. The fact that you let us appear before you and 

 give you the information on what we are trying to do is encouraging 

 to us, certainly, and on the policy level this has had considerable 

 impact. 



Mr. Miller. You see, I have only been on this committee for about 

 6 years and, as far as I know, until this Academy report came out, we 

 perfunctorily have had, for instance, the Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 up before us for a hearing and I do not think that the committee, 

 while interested, gave too much thought to your work. 



I am very happy that, as the result of the Academy's work and the 

 work that we have undertaken here, we are getting to laiow one an- 

 other better. 



I want you to know that this committee stands ready to help you 

 in anyway that it can and we are still going to want the advice and 

 knowledge that you have over tlie long haul in helping us get to the 

 bottom of this. 



Admiral Pierce. Thank you. 



Mr. Miller. Mr. Curtin ? 



Mr. Curtin. Yes, Mr. Chairman. 



Do I understand, then, that you do not think that this bill is neces- 

 sary ? 



Admiral Pierce. I do not think that we need it to do whatever is 

 necessary in the field of oceanography. We have plenty of legislative 

 authority now. 



Mr. Curtin. You have sufficient authority now to do what needs to 

 be done? 



Admiral Pierce, Yes, sir. 



Mr. Curtin. In the event that the bill should be enacted and be- 

 come law, do you foresee that there would be any possibility of con- 

 flict between the civilian agencies and the military agencies as to the 

 results of the surveys and the publicity that should be given to them ? 



