ADVANCEMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES 57 



determine the effect of distribution of radioactive elements in the sea 

 on living marine organisms. 



Page 12, line 21, following the word "products" period, insert the 

 following : 



Such studies may be carried out through contracts %\'ith in- 

 stitutions, agencies, or organizations competent to make such 

 studies, or by gi'ants to such institutions, agencies, or organ- 

 izations. 



The studies referred to are those of economic and legal aspects of 

 commercial fisheries and the utilization of marine products. The 

 committee, through this amendment, wished to make it specific that 

 the Bureau would not be required or feel obligated to undertake these 

 studies itself, but may utilize the services of authorities in these fields. 

 Page 13, line 24, following the word "mapping.", insert the follow- 

 ing: 



Such examinations, investigations, research, survej's, and 

 mapping may be carried out through contracts with institu- 

 tions, agencies, or organizations competent to conduct such 

 investigations, research, survey's, or mapping, or b}' grants 

 to such institutions, agencies, or organizations. 



The purpose of this amendment is identical to that of the previous 

 amendment, relating, however, to research connected with the geo- 

 logical structm'e, mineral resources, and products in and beneath the 

 oceans and the Great Lakes. 



SECTION 6 



Section 6 of the bill would authorize appropriations for the activi- 

 ties and studies authorized in section 5. 



Such sums as are necessar}' would be authorized for construction of 

 new ships for fisheries exploration and research. The amount is not 

 specified as your committee, which has legislative jurisdiction over the 

 agency, will wish to review from time to time the progress being made 

 by the Bureau in the program. 



Previously in this report an accounting was given of the status of 

 the research and exploratory- fleet operated b}' the Bureau of Com- 

 mercial Fisheries. 



The Bureau is compelled to rent ships to conduct fisheries research 

 in Pacific Northwest waters and in the Unimak Pass area of Alaska 

 and the Bering Sea, and has only a 10-ton, 38-foot boat of its own for 

 operation in southeastern Alaska waters. 



Russia has had well-equipped and manned fisheries research ships 

 exploring these waters for several years and, as stated earlier in this 

 report, is operating a massive fishing fleet in the Bering Sea. 



The handicaps under which biologists of the Bureau of Commercial 

 Fisheries work on vessels temporarily chartered by the Bureau for 

 research in these waters have been reported to this committee by 

 scientists who have worked on these boats. 



No laboratory space at all exists on these chartered ships, the 

 committee was told. Scientists must keep their equipment and 

 records in their own bunks. The galley table usually is the only 

 place on the vessels where they can spread their work, and it is 



