46 FRONTIERS IN OCEANIC RESEARCH 



programs scattered throughout universities, Government laboratories, 

 and industry. The cost of this effort approximates $14 million for 

 military surveys and about $10 million for military research. Because 

 of the peculiarly military character of these programs, their funding 

 is not included in the national oceanographic program. 



The Navy's concern about the oceans today, as in the past, stems 

 directly from military requirements. Here the most pressing and 

 best known problem lies in the field of undersea warfare. I have 

 brought with me a tape recording of sounds of undersea creatures 

 which illustrates the nature and complexity of the problem of under- 

 water detection and classification. 



Now, Mr. Chairman, with your permission I can run this off, which 

 will take about 5 minutes. 



The Chairman. Fine. 



Dr. Wakelin. It is a tape prepared by Rear Adm. John S. Thach, 

 the then commander of Task Force Alpha working out of Norfolk 

 for his staff and for our use, and with your permission I might turn 

 it on. 



The Chairman. I think the committee would be very much inter- 

 ested in it. 



Dr. Wakelin. Thank you, sir. 



(The recording is as follows :) 



Admiral Thach. North America is virtually an island, and right off our door- 

 step is a relatively unexplored jungle, whole mountain ranges, deep canyons, 

 and many strange creatures are hidden there beneath millions of cubic miles of 

 sea water. 



This liquid space, about which we know so little, is a murky mass of discon- 

 tinuities, full of sound ducts, currents, and thermal layers. Most incredible of 

 all is the noise racketing through the undersea jungle. 



I have a tape recording I would like to play for you to give you an idea of 

 what some of the undersea creatures sound like. 



The first example is a recording of snapping shrimp against the background 

 of typical ambient sea noise caused by waves and other marine creatures. 



[Recording of sounds.] 



Admiral Thach. This next one is a drum fish. 



[Recording of sounds.] 



Admiral Thach. Now we have an unidentified moaning sound. No one can 

 tell us exactly what is making this noise. 



[Recording of sounds.] 



Admiral Thach. The next sound is that produced by a white whale. You 

 will be able to distinguish a high-pitched whistling, followed by creaking sounds. 

 We do not know exactly how the white whale makes these noises. 



[Recording of sounds.] 



Admiral Thach. Next is the sound of an electric eel killing a small fish. The 

 regular rapid clicking is believed to be the eel's own sonar that he uses to find 

 his prey and the sinister burst of sharp buzzing sound is the electric discharge 

 of the coup de grace. 



[Recording of sounds.] 



Admiral Thach. The noises you have just heard illustrate some of the many 

 sounds against which the submarine noises must be distinguished. 



The next sound is that of a submarine trim pump in an otherwise quiet 

 submarine. 



[Recording of sounds.] 



Admiral Thach. Now we have the sound of a submarine raising a periscope. 

 This was recorded rather close aboard. 



[Recording of sounds.] 



The Chairman. That is very interesting. Would that help us with 

 our fishing, Mr. Secretary? 



Dr. Wakelin. It may, very definitely. 



It doesn't help us with our antisubmarine warfare though. 



