22 ADVANCEMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES 



In the Atlantic the Coast Guard maintains four weather stations 

 approximately 1000 miles off our shores and ranging from south of 

 Greenland to east of Cape Fear. 



The Coast Guard is aware of this potential for deep ocean studies. 



It is aware of many other potentials which will exist when legislation 

 such as S. 901 is enacted. 



These potentials, with a list of vessels and the areas in which they 

 operate, was sent to the chairman of your Committee by Vice Adm. 

 J. A. Hu'shfield, Acting Commandant of the Coast Guard, last 

 November. 



Of large craft, Admiral Hirshfield reported, the Coast Guard has 

 36 cutters of over 200 feet, 55 buoy tenders of over 150 feet, 23 patrol 

 craft of 100 to 200 feet, 31 hghtships, 8 oceangoing tugs, and 5 ice- 

 breakers. 



With reference to the buoy tenders, the report stated : 



It is reasonable to assume that since these are the only 

 U.S. vessels capable of working buoys at sea, the future plans 

 for increased use of oceanographic buoy systems will call 

 upon the services of this type of vessel. 



"Lightships provide a medium for marine research which is uniquely 

 valuable," the report continued. 



"Coast Guard ocean station vessels occupying weather stations in 

 the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans year round represent a research 

 potential significant even to tlie casual observer," the report stated 

 elsewhere, adding that — 



weather ships are not equipped with any instruments for 

 research in the fields of oceanography except as occasionally 

 provided by a cooperating agency. 



Even the larger patrol craft and oceangoing tugs could be adapted 

 for limited oceanographic projects, it was conceded. 



Legislation such as S. 901 is necessary to include them in the national 

 oceanographic effort. 



WEATHER IN THE OCEANS 



Day and night the U.S. Weather Bureau is in communication' 

 directly or indirectly, with virtually every citizen. 



Through newspapers, radio, and television, it forecasts tempera- 

 tures, humidity, and prospects of sunshine or precipitation. 



These forecasts are based on data collected from thousands of 

 individual observers stationed about the country, many ships at sea, 

 and recently from TIROS satellites. 



Farmers, fishermen, motorists, retailers, air and sliip navigators, 

 resort owners, shoppers; everyone, in fact, is guided by them. 



The Weather Bureau is a dedicated service, staffed with highly 

 trained meteorologists, and has been in operation since 1870. 



Only two questions connected with this legislation concern the 

 Weather Bureau. They are: 



1. In view of the Bm-eau's statutory responsibilities, is it 

 doing enough? 



2. If not, why not? 



