OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 23 



(Tlie follomng was furnished for insertion :) 



Text of Identical Letters of January 22 and 25, I960, From Representa- 

 tive George P. Miller, (Democrat-California), Chairman of the 

 Special Subcommittee on Oceanography, Committee on Merchant 

 Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, to the Honorable 

 William B. Franke, Secretary of the Navy, and the Honorable 

 Frederick H. Mueller. Secretary op Commerce: 



Dear Mr. Secretary: This committee, through our Subcommittee on Ocea- 

 nography, has devoted a great deal of time during the past year studying all phases 

 of current activity, both governmental and private, in the fields of the marine 

 sciences in the United States. Through these studies, which are continuing, we 

 hope to develop and recommend ways and means of establishing a sound and 

 workable Ijasis for a coordinated long range national oceanographic program along 

 the lines proposed by the Committee on Oceanography of the National Academy of 

 Sciences, National Research Council. 



From the tiu'.e of our very earliest hearings, our subcommittee has been im- 

 pressed with the need expressed by representatives of the National Academy 

 group for a basic and continuing program of oceanwide surveys. Formal testi- 

 mony and extensive informal supplemental inquiries have borne out this essential 

 primary need. However, we have also learned that the aggregate of all vessels 

 in the United States devoted to oceanographic work are grossly inadequate or 

 unsuited to perform an effective job in foreseeable time. 



Specialized new and replacem.ent vesseis proposed in the Academy's 10-year 

 program will, when and if they become available, go far toward overcoming our 

 deficiencies in our knowledge of the oceans from the standpoint of l)asic oceanwide 

 surveys as well as the other special fields of oceanography. But one would be 

 less than realistic to believe that survey activity can be materially stepped up in 

 the short range future if it is dependent upon a vessel construction program which 

 can scarcely be said to have been started. 



However, it occurs to me that in addition to existing oceanographic vessels, 

 there are other available platforms at sea which could be utilized to obtain funda- 

 mental data of great value in developing our knowledge of the oceans, pending 

 the construction of new and more specialized vessels. 



In this connection, I call particular attention to the nuclear ship Savannah 

 which is scheduled to go into operation this ye'^.r urder general agency agreement 

 with the Maritime Administration. As stated in the Department oi Com.merce 

 Maritime Administration budget for fiscal year 1961, this vessel will operate for 

 an experimental period of approximately 2 years, carrying no revenue producing 

 cargo. On the basis of son>e fani.iliarity with her characteristics, it would appear 

 to me that through cooperation and coordination between the Department of the 

 Navy and the Department of Commerce valuable arrangements could be made for 

 effective use of this vessel in gathering oceanographic data without in any way 

 interfering with her experimental operation and testing during the next 2 "years. 

 Primarily, such arrangem.ents would involve the Maritime Administration, Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey, and possi'-ly the Weather Bureau, in the Department of 

 Commerce, and the Hydrographic Office and the Office of Naval Research in the 

 Navy. 



In view of the foregoing, therefore, I would appreciate it if you would give care- 

 ful consideration to the possibihty of utilizing the NS Savannah for the collection 

 of basic hydrographic and oceanographic data which can be made from a moving 

 vessel at sea simultaneously and without conflict with the trials of the vessel and 

 her propulsive eauipment and machinery. 



I would greatly appreciate hearing from you at your earliest convenience con- 

 cerning your reaction to this suggestion. 



With kindest regards and best wishes. 

 Sincerely, 



George P. Miller, 

 Chairman, Special Subcommittee on Oceanography. 



Has that letter come to your attention or have you given any 

 thought to that particular point? 



Mr. Reichelderfer. We have given a good bit of thought to it 

 and my understanding is that the plans are coming along pretty well. 

 If you do not mind, I think one of the gentlemen here can furnish 



