58 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 



A number of agencies in Government are contributing toward 

 research in this area, including our own Bureau, and a number of 

 other agencies in Government. We are attempting to coordinate 

 this effort, to know exactly what each other is doing, and to make 

 sure that all phases of this work are carried out within the best public 

 interest. 



In connection with this, of course, there are many technical prob- 

 lems involved, such as a radiofrequency problem. That is, if you 

 have buoys out in the ocean, and they have to radio in, you have the 

 tremendously complicated problem of how to get enough frequencies 

 available for them and also for ships and aircraft and other needs. 



We are working very broadly in Government, and are attempting 

 to work within organizations both nationally and internationally to 

 attempt to resolve this problem. It apparently is not an insurmount- 

 able problem, and again, we are told by experts in this field that this 

 can be done, although it will take some time. 



In fact, we are intending to go to international meetings this fall, 

 and have certain specific suggestions from the U.S. Government con- 

 cerning the radio band frequencies which would apply to such things 

 as buoys, and other needs in the field of oceanography. 



We expect to establish an encyclopedia of oceanographic instru- 

 mentation, which would furnish accurate descriptions of instruments 

 now in existence, whether these descriptions have been published or 

 not. We would hope to keep this encyclopedia up to date by a staff 

 who would be knowledgeable. No matter where in the world, or no 

 matter where in industry such developments were taking place, we 

 would hope to filter them into a central place, where all new develop- 

 ments would be available to any scientist or technician in oceanog- 

 raphy. He could take advantage of this encyclopedia, and could 

 either develop his own specialized instruments from the knowledge 

 gained through the encyclopedia or could perhaps order them directly 

 in the numbers needed for his specialized use. 



I mentioned before that we are considering for sometime in 1962 

 a meeting of marine biologists and biological oceanographers to define 

 more clearly the needs in biological oceanography. 



I believe, Mr. Chairman, that if our plans are successfully carried 

 out, that we will establish a good working relationship between 

 specialists in the field of instruments and that we will open up lines 

 of communication, we will tend to prevent duplication of effort, and 

 we would hope to stimulate the effort in the development of better, 

 more efficient instruments for the use of those in the field of 

 oceanography. 



I believe this is a brief summary of how our panel works, Mr. Chair- 

 man. I believe it has worked well. I think it has been successful, 

 and my own opinion is that it is rather typical of the various panels 

 that have been set up within the Interagency Committee on Oceanog- 

 raphy. 



Thank you very much. 



Mr. Dingell. Mr. Bauer? 



Mr. Bauer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I would like to talk first about facilities. 



Just how do you go about coordinating the construction or the plan- 

 ning of new facilities? Do you take what each agency or department 



