PREFACE 



In 1927, the National Academy of Sciences 

 authorized the appointment of a commit- 

 tee to consider the share of the United 

 States in a world-wide program of oceano- 

 graphic research. Prior to that time, lead- 

 ership in this science was clearly vested in 

 the countries of Europe bordering on the 

 North Sea. In this country, oceanographic 

 studies had been pursued largely incidental 

 to the practical tasks of several govern- 

 mental agencies ( Hydrographic Office, 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey, Coast Guard, 

 and Bureau of Fisheries) or on the initia- 

 tive of a few private individuals such as 

 Alexander Agassiz and Henry B. Bigelow. 



The report prepared by the earlier Com- 

 mittee on Oceanography brought recogni- 

 tion to the science of the sea. Substantial 

 sums were forthcoming for buildings, ves- 

 sels, and endowment for institutions on the 

 east and west coasts, which were adequate 

 for the time. With the onset of World War 

 II, practical applications of oceanography 

 were recognized by the Armed Forces and 

 funds became available for oceanographic 

 work of all sorts. After the war, inflation 

 made it impossible to continue oceano- 

 graphic research on the pre-war scale with- 



out additional support. The government has 

 continued to provide this. Nevertheless the 

 healthy growth of oceanography has been 

 hampered by the uncertainty as to how 

 long this support may be available, and 

 by other restrictions. 



As this was a situation common to all 

 oceanographic institutions, the late Dr. 

 Frank B. Jewett considered it timely to 

 establish a second Committee of Oceanog- 

 raphy to review the needs of this science 

 today. Accordingly, the President of the 

 National Academy in 1949 established such 

 a committee. The following report is the 

 result of its deliberations. 



The Committee consisted of Detlev W. 

 Bronk, Chairman, L. O. Colbert, Carl 

 Eckart, W. Maurice Ewing, Richard H. 

 Fleming, A. G. Huntsmrn, Columbus O'D. 

 Iselin, Frank B. Jewett, Alfred C. Redfield, 

 F. W. Reichelderfer, Roger Revelle, Louis 

 B. Slichter, Edward H. Smith, John T. Tate, 

 Harden F. Taylor, T. G. Thompson, Merle 

 Tuve, and L. A. Walford. 



The Committee is greatly indebted to Dr. 

 Mary Sears for editorial aid in the prepa- 

 ration of this report. 



