76 FRONTIERS IN OCEANIC RESEARCH 



A. Oceanographic research will attract private venture capital in those areas 

 where a near future profit can be predicted ; for example, in offshore oil 

 surveying and drilling. 



Other areas, like conversion of salt water to fresh water, will require subsidy 

 for a few years until the processes or projects gradually can be made economical, 

 at which time further improvements may well be sponsored by industry. 



In still other areas, like the effects of the oceans on weather, a commercial 

 profit is difficult to foresee, and the entire programs will require Government 

 support. 



3. Q. What kind of incentives could be established, perhaps through congres- 

 sional legislation, that would encourage investment of private capital? 



A. Investment of private capital could be encouraged in several ways. 



(a) A sufficiently stable legal and tax environment for reliable planning by 

 industry. 



(&) Special weather forecasting, rescue, and other protective measures where 

 needed. 



(c) Favorable tax concessions or subsidies to encourage marginal industrial 

 ventures. This requires, of course, provision for incentives to outgrow the need 

 for such support. 



4. Q. Is it practical to conduct exploration and production of oil in deep 

 water? Why has there been so little industrial development in this direction? 



A. Drilling of oil in deep water is now under development by the oil industry. 

 Two ships have been equipped as floating oil derricks for drilling in water a few 

 hundred feet deep. The chief technical problem is to hold the shop in an exact 

 position in the face of wind, waves, and currents. One of the ships is being 

 used for preliminary tests in the Mohole program with a view toward improving 

 the techniques of deepwater drilling generally. 



5. Q. Do you visualize the need for and practicability of research laboratories 

 situated at sea, either as a floating platform or as a submerged research station? 

 Would these have advantages over research now being conducted on ships? Do 

 you know of any plans for such stations ? 



A. As indicated in my prepared statement to the committee, submerged research 

 stations will be needed so that scientists can study the natural, pressurized 

 environment. Although I did not specifically mention floating laboratories, they, 

 too, will be desirable for making stationary observations of relatively long 

 duration. 



Of the two kinds of laboratories, the underwater variety will handle research 

 that no ship can hope to duplicate. Ships could serve as floating laboratories, 

 and often do. However, a ship is costly to operate and is relatively crowded for 

 performing careful laboratory experiments. 



Some floating laboratories are included in chapter 7 : Engineering Needs, of 

 the National Academy of Science's report on "Oceanography 1960 to 1970." I 

 do not know of any projects undex % way to provide laboratories at sea. 



6. Q. Would fixed undersea stations have any practical value as part of a 

 system of antisubmarine defense? 



A. Fixed undersea stations could be useful in an undersea warfare role. 

 Considerable study would be required to analyze their justification in compari- 

 son with other kinds of antisubmarine systems. One problem would be the 

 self-defense of the undersea stations against attack by the enemy submarine 

 fleet. 



Mr. Miller. I could have made that singular, the member of the 

 committee. 



The Chairman. Well, there are two members. 



The committee is adjourned until Tuesday morning at 10 o ? clock. 



(Whereupon, at 11 :55 a.m., the committee was adjourned, to recon- 

 vene at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 3, 1960, on another subject.) 



X 



