16 OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 



lecting and studying marine organisjiis has proceeded verj^ rapidly during the 

 past ten years. Because of lack of funds these methods have so far "been applied 

 primarily to relatively nearshore waters. These new tools should be used for 

 exploration of the entire oceans. With oceanographic ships and manpower 

 presently available annual exploring expeditions of at least three months' duration 

 could be carried out in both the Atlantic and the Pacific over the next five years, 

 and would almost certainly yield results of importance in understanding the 

 history of the Earth and the physical and biological processes in the sea. 



To put these recommendations into effect the additional sums required annually 

 are estimated, at present day costs, to be as follows: 



To establish research fellowships $25, 000-$50, 000 



To establish staff and faculty positions 100, 000-150, 000 



Unrestricted funds to operate ships 125, 000-1 50, 000 



Basic research in biology and chemistry 200, 000-250, 000 



Expeditions 50, 000-150, 000 



Total $500, 000-$750, 000 



In addition, new laboratory construction will be required to replace temporary 

 quarters now occupied at various laboratories. 



These recommendations are based on the assumption that Federal and State 

 support of oceanographic research will remain at the present level for the fore- 

 seeable future. Concerning Federal support the Committee recommends: 



1. That present support of private oceanographic institutions be continued on 

 as broad a basis and with as much continuity as possible. 



2. That agencies of the Federal Government conducting oceanographic work 

 should increase the amount of effort devoted to basic research and to long-term 

 scientific objectives in addition to carrying out ocean surveys and work of im- 

 mediate practical application. 



3. That oceanograi)hers employed in the Federal Government under Civil 

 Service should be assigned to work from time to time at one of the major ocea- 

 nographic institutions. By actual participation in research on the frontiers of 

 oceanography their insight would be quickened and their interest refreshed. At 

 the same time, their colleagues on the staffs of the oceanographic institutions 

 would gain by contact with practical problems which are of primary concern to 

 the Government agencies. 



4. That through the United Nations and the Point Four program the United 

 States should encourage the rebuilding and development of oceanographic research 

 centers in other countries, particularly in the southern hemisphere and the western 

 Pacific. Because of the unity of the oceans, the interests of the United States 

 would be well served by developing oceanographic centers in other countries 

 which could cooperate with our own oceanographic agencies in coordinated 

 exploratory programs. 



If funds l)ecome available for fellowships and for expeditions, these might 

 appropriately be administered by the National Academy of Sciences, the Notional 

 Research Council, or the National Science Foundation. In addition it would 

 appear desirable that continuing surveys be made from time to time of the prog- 

 ress of the oceanographic sciences, and these could be carried out by this 

 Committee. 



The Committee recommends that it be continued for this purpose." 



Suffice it to say that this 1951 set of recommendations failed to 

 develop adequate response for, late in 1957, the National Academy 

 of Sciences was called upon a third time, now by a nimiber of Govern- 

 ment agencies, to form a new Committee on Oceanography and once 

 more to take stock of United States needs, and level of activity, and to 

 formulate a long-range program for the future. 



The 1957 study (NASCO reports) developed background informa- 

 tion in authoritative detail and called for an expanded program in 

 clear and forceful language. It received much favorable publicity. 

 As is noted subsequently, this study has been a primary stimulus to 

 interest by the Congress. The substance of the NAS surveys of 

 present effort and of proposals for a 10-year long-range program 

 has been anal^'zed in Sections VI and VIII of this cm-rent report. 



" Oceanography 1951, Report of the Committee on Oceanography of the National Academy of Sciences, 

 o]!. pit., pp. 27-28. 



