28 OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 



consideration with a view to overcoming this Nation's lag in this scientific 

 field, and urges their support of a comprehensive plan that will assure the 

 United States permanent leadership in oceanographic research; 



(2) commends the programs of the several agencies for rehabilitating 

 their research facilities and enlarging their oceanographic activities to the 

 President and the Bureau of the Budget for hke study and consideration 

 with the object of developing a well-balanced and coordinated expansion of 

 scientific effort in this vital field; 



(3) concurs in the recommendations of the Committee on Oceanography 

 that— 



(a) basic oceanographic research be immediately expanded and at 

 least doubled within the next ten years; 



(b) in the field of applied research fisheries exploration be intensified, 

 migrator}^ patterns investigated, greater attention given to genetics of 

 fish and other marine organisms, biological surveys augmented utilizing 

 new devices, a program on diseases and other toxic effects in the marine 

 environment established, comprehensive studies made of the economic 

 and legal aspects of commercial fisheries, especially in relation to other 

 industries, and research stimulated on the nature of organisms in the 

 sea on which marine life of commercial or sports value feeds; 



(c) training of more oceanographic scientists in private educational 

 and research institutions be encouraged and facilitated by the National 

 Science Foundation and the Office of Education with the object of 

 doubling the number of oceanographers at the doctor of philosophy level 

 during the next ten years; 



(d) systematic ocean-wide and ocean-deep surveys be conducted by 

 the Coast and Geodetic Survey and Hydrographic Office, Bureau of 

 Navigation, Department of the Navy, to develop much broader knowl- 

 edge of depths, salinity, temperature, current velocity, wave motion, 

 magnetism and biological activity; 



(e) research fleets of the various agencies and institutions engaged in 

 basic or applied oceanographic research, of which most of the vessels are 

 old and obsolete, be replaced by modern ships adapted to ocean-wide 

 scientific studies and furnished with advanced scientific equipment, 

 and that the number of ships be increased 90 per centum within the next 

 ten years; 



(f) shore facilities commensurate with an expanded program of basic 

 research be constructed in order to derive maximum knowledge from 

 observations and collections made at sea; 



(g) development and utilization of deep-diving manned submersibles 

 be expedited to facilitate maximum accomplishments in both basic and 

 applied oceanographic research at all depths; 



(h) mineral research be undertaken on the ocean floor with a view to 

 present or ultimate utilization of the untapped resources that lie beneath 

 the ocean; and 



(i) extensive scientific investigations be made on the effects of radio- 

 activity in the oceans including the genetic effects of radiation upon 

 marine organisms, the inorganic transfer of radioactive elements from 

 seawater to the sediments, and the circulation and mixing processes 

 which control the dispersion of introduced contaminants in coastal 

 _ and estuarine environments and in the open ocean; 



(4) recommends that in order to coordinate the programs of the various 

 agencies some method of interagency cooperation should be developed, 

 possibly through an Oceanographic Research Board or Commission; and 



(5) recommends that cooperation between the United States and other 

 nations in oceanographic research and exchange of data should be considered 

 on a carefully supervised and reciprocal basis. 



Oceanography was one of the few special fields singled out for men- 

 tion in a statement released December 27, 1958, by President Eisen- 

 hower when he made public a report of his Science Advisory Com- 

 mittee concerned with strengthening American science. As back- 

 ground, the President introduced the report by noting: 



More than a year ago a many-pronged effort was launched to underwrite the 

 strength of American science and technology as one of our essential resources for 

 security and welfare. At that time, I asked my Science Advisory Committee to 



