OCEANOGRAPHY 113 



Dr. ScHAEFER. Yes. 



Mr. Miller. The only way I know of assuring that this is going to 

 be done would be that. 



Dr. ScHAEFER. This may veiy well be so. In fact, one point I 

 did want to emphasize in amplification of my written statement here 

 is that there needs to be a Board of Control consisting of representa- 

 tives of these other agencies and perhaps of some non-Government 

 scientists that acts in more than simply an advisoiy capacit}-. With 

 an advisory board, you can take their advice or you can leave it alone. 

 I think it is highly desirable at this data center, if it is located at the 

 Hydrographic Office, to have a board of directors, determming its 

 policy ancl the methods of operation, that is more than an advisory 

 board, that actually runs it. 



The third topic I would like to speak a}x)ut briefly is the Xational 

 Instrument Test and Calibration Center, a center to test, calibrate, 

 and evaluate oceanographic and hydrographic instruments on a cost- 

 reimbursable basis for both governmental and nongovernmental 

 agencies, including foreign agencies and persons. 



I believe the establishment of such facilit}^ is of very great im- 

 portance, particularly in view of the plans for coordinated oceanwide 

 survey and research programs. These surveys will involve the efforts 

 of many different groups within the United States and from other 

 cooperating nations. 



At the present time the larger laboratories in the United States do 

 most of their own instrument testing and calibration, but there is 

 certainly a need for such services for smaller laboratories which cannot 

 afford to have these facilities themselves, and even the large labora- 

 tories might very well find a national center would be able to provide 

 these services at a lower cost than the cost for which we can provide 

 the service ourselves. 



I would also like to emphasize, in the case of foreign laboratories, 

 .such as the small laboratories of some of our Latin American neigh- 

 bors, I know from personal experience such a service would be very 

 valuable. This could be a very effective meajis of encouraging their 

 development of marine sciences, and particularly in insuring that 

 tlie data collected by them are accurate and comparable to those col- 

 lected elsewhere. 



Wliether such a test and calibration center should be located in the 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Hydrogi'aphic Office, or the Bureau 

 of Standards or some other agency I do not have any personal opinion. 

 I thmk any of those agencies just named could do the job com- 

 petently. 



Mr. Miller. There is a need for such a center ? 



Dr. ScHAEFER. Yes. 



Mr. Miller, ^^^lere we put it would be governed by other con- 

 siderations. 



Dr. ScHAEFER. Yes. 



Mr. Miller. Mr. Bauer. 



Mr. Balt:r. Let us talk on the data center bill by section (c) on 

 page 2, the Xational Oceanographic Data Center is authorized to con- 

 duct research and other projects within the field of its activities for 

 any department, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of the 

 L'nited States on a cost reimbursable basis. 



