142 OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 



Performance components fall into two major categories: intramural 

 and extramural organizations. Intramural laboratories represent 

 those research organizations which are both funded and managed by 

 Government agencies, w^ith staffs who are predominantly civil ser- 

 vants. The extramural organizations represent the universities, non- 

 profit independent laboratories, and the industrial laboratories which 

 conduct research for the Government on a contract or grant basis. 



The question as to where the projected expansion should best take 

 place was not discussed in the NASCO proposals. The TENOC re- 

 port implied that the existing contract laboratories now performing 

 research for the Navy would be earmarked for its expanded program. 

 It is clear from the data presented in Section VIII, however, that a 

 major part of the increase in effort is proposed to be sponsored by 

 civilian organizations, rather than the Navy. 



The possibility exists of accommodating and fostering growth by 

 entirely new oceanographic laboratories that could either be Govern- 

 ment owned and operated, or Government owned and contractor op- 

 erated, following patterns established by the Atomic Energy Com- 

 mission. Any study of this question may need a more penetrating 

 appraisal of the place which Government laboratories do or should 

 occupy in the national complex of research organizations, catering 

 to interests which cannot await spontaneous generation at a university. 



The question may also be raised as to how the greatly expanded 

 fleet of oceanographic research ships should be operated. The NASCO 

 reports were clear in suggesting that these should be placed com- 

 pletely at the disposal of those actually doing research, but manned 

 by civilian crews so that the mission of the ships would not be diluted 

 or distracted by other practical or military projects, and the ship 

 captain have but one loyalty — to the chief civilian scientist. On the 

 other hand, any such operation by research laboratories is inevitably 

 a distraction to their main purpose of conducting research. 



This question may not have evolved before since earlier ocean- 

 ographic vessels took on the qualities of "yachts" and were thus far 

 more manageable by the laboratories, and, by then- small size, com- 

 patible with the laboratory mission. 



There are thus three possible modes of ship operation. In the 

 first instance, titles of new ships could be transferred to the laboratory 

 user, and the research organization henceforth responsible for their 

 operation with project funds. Another possibility exists for the oper- 

 ation of such ships, either for research or for survey piu"poses, entirely 

 by agencies of the Federal Government, much as is now done. A 

 third alternative which must be evaluated in terms of the relative 

 economy and effectiveness of operation includes the use of commercial 

 ship operators. In such cases, the United States would retain title to 

 all of the new research ships proposed for construction, but their oper- 

 ation could be turned over in groups to independent organizations, 

 whose sole piu-pose would be to cater to the oceanographic program. 

 Control of the ships and payment of operating costs would still be the 

 responsibihty of the research laboratory, but by this means the ship 

 operations, particularly of larger vessels, might be vested in organiza- 

 tions uniquely familiar with their operation and maintenance so as 

 to free the research group from this problem. 



Another important question relates to the development of data 

 centers. The collection, indexing, filing, and dissemination of data ob- 



