EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 125 



Mr. Abel. Yes, sir; that would be extremely valuable, and that is 

 what we hope to effect in a matter of a few months. 



Mr. Dingell. And at this moment, we do not have a long-range 

 program for Government oceanography; am I right? 



Mr. Abel. No, sir; not at this very moment. 



Mr. Dingell. And yet we are publishing annual programs? 



Mr. Abel. Yes. I cannot actually give a clear answer as to why 

 the chicken came before the egg in this case. I would suspect it is 

 harder to write a 10-year program, especially in the situation where 

 the ICO has but recently come into existence. 



Mr. Dingell. This is" not intended to be critical, because I under- 

 stand that ICO is a very new creature in the Government, and has 

 had only a limited amount of time in which to begin its operations. 

 We are anxious to see that it gets off on the right foot. Mr. Abel, 

 you have been most helpful. 



Mr. Bauer? 



Mr. Bauer. I just have one question: Does the Army have any 

 interest in oceanography? 



Mr. Abel. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Bauer. Where is that interest? 



Mr. Abel. It lies mostly within the Beach Erosion Board of the 

 Corps of Engineers. 



Mr. Bauer. Is that an important function? 



Mr. Abel. May I give a personal opinion in this case? 



Mr. Bauer. Yes. 



Mr. Abel. Yes. I believe myself that they carry out quite an 

 important function. 



Mr. Bauer. Why are they not represented on any panel of the ICO? 



Mr. Abel. A representative of the Beach Erosion Board is listed 

 in the roster of the ICO membership and panel membership you have 

 there; and he is associated in panel treatments of areas where he has 

 an affiliation. 



Mr. Bauer. As a consultant? That is the situation there? 



Mr. Abel. Yes, I believe that is a fair statement. 



Mr. Bauer. Is not everyone that works for the Government 

 able to be a consultant in the ICO? 



Mr. Abel. Yes, sir, it is a matter of degree. 



Mr. Bauer. Do you not think it is of sufficient importance, for 

 example, to have someone representing the Army's interests in the 

 Research Panel? 



Mr. Abel. This is possibly so, and as I stated before, it would 

 probably be better expounded upon by Dr. Maxwell, as Research 

 Panel Chairman. 



Mr. Bauer. And also the Survey Panel? 



Mr. Abel. It is possible. These panels cut across the structures 

 of a great many agencies, and I believe myself it is important to 

 achieve a balance between thoroughness of representation and 

 mobilitv; and mobility is very important to the operations of a panel. 



Mr. Bauer. You are, of course, familiar with the work that the 

 Beach Erosion Board has done in wave research on the Continental 

 Shelf of the United States? 



Mr. Abel. Somewhat, sir. 



Mr. Bauer. And that is of importance in oceanography, is it not? 



Mr. Abel. Yes, sir. 



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