95 



Zoology in 1912; the development since 1910 of oCr.-?nio biology 9S a 

 miior "project at the St, Andrcv:s Lb>ora-ccry of the Biological Board 

 of' Canada leading directly to the 0-.nadi<n Fisheries expedition in 

 1915; and the inclusion by thcr Incemational Io_ Patrol of studies of 

 oceanic circulation as p?rt of its regulc^r duties since 1914. The 

 rapid d.-.:Vclopmcnt of o-i.:- en io biology, dynamic oceanography, and in 

 submarine geology (this lest nioTera,.'nt one of the most important for 

 the promotion of Oceanography in the United States) which has follow- 

 ed in American wat-^rs has b-^en l'rg-.,ly as an outgrowth from these 

 scattered beginnings. 



II. ANALYSIS BY PROJiCTS 



Discussion of the s>:;veral distinct lines of activity today will 

 sivi 8 better picture of the present status of Oc . -^nography in 

 ^m-'-rica than would ^i regional or institutional examination. From 

 this st-^ndpoint marine investigations may be classed rathir arbitrar- 

 ily as: (e) active exploration at sea; (b^ invcstigstions in seaside 

 laboratories or at other shore centers; (c) coordinating institutions; 

 (dj opportunity for instruction offered by universities, and (e) last 

 bMt not least, aval] able lioraries. 



■ A. ACTIVE EXPLORATION AT SEA 



Oceanographic exploration, whether its aims be bioloo:ic or 

 physical, has by natural process of evolution developed along tv;o 

 lines. It may be carried on by great deep-sea exploring expeditions, 

 oceanwide in scope, but comparatively short in duration; and sent out 

 as more or less isolated events in the general progress of science. 

 ;^s the need of more intensive knowledge developed, continuous or at 

 least periodic study of areas within a few hundred miles of the home 

 station have proved more and more fertile, such as can be carried out 

 on a small vessel at sm.all expense. It is this procedure that has 

 contributed most to the modern advance of Oceanic Biology. The deep- 

 sea expedition was the method of early days of the science. ks just 

 remarked, the day is passing for expeditions of this sort, except in 

 the realms of physical and ch.-raical Oceanography. Hare, when it is a 

 case of examining great areas of the sea, an occasional extended 

 expedition is essential, vide , the contributions recently m.adcs to our 

 knowledge of the circulation of the South A.tlantic by the "Meteor". 



The last few years have seen a reawakening of interest in such 

 cruises in America, and we find evidence that Ararrican science is 

 alive to their value in last summ-.r's dynamic exploration of Tavis 

 Strait oy the Coast Guard Cutter Mt^RION (Page 96); in the Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology cruises in the iVtlantic, (Page 97 ); and more 

 notably, in the prisent cruis-.- of the GARNEOIS sent out by the 

 Carnec:ie Institution of Washington. This last is the most ambitious 

 undertaking of the sort sponsored in America for many years, and the 

 expansion of the activities of the Tepartment for Terrestrial Mag-net- 

 ism of the Carnegie Institution into the realms of Oceanography 

 deserves cm.phgsis, as illustrating the present-day virility of ocean 

 sci-nce in the United States. This expedition is planned for three 

 years, to cover a net-work of 110,000 miles across all thj great 

 o<»eans. In addition to the regular magnetic work, and to observations 

 of atmospheric electricity, an extensive program of physical oceano- 

 graphy is plann'^d, including soundings in little-known parts of the 

 ocean basins, dynamics of the water along the tracks covered, 



