148 



shipf-. , hv the foundatjon of teac>'inR or research chairs in t-^s suh- 

 ,iect, cr hv in any 'va-- strengthening the oceanograohlc depart-^ients 

 in t'-e universities that no"- maintain such. 



'"e '.vov^ld enphasir.e t'^e importance o"^ support vi_a the universi- 

 ties, hecause we are convinced th:it vith few exceptions sound c.<^.- 

 vances in any field of i-:nov/ledge can he ex-;octed only through them 

 or through research institutions fed b-^- their graduates. Pu.t some 

 provision for field instruction in t' e technical procedure of the 

 different subdivisions of Oceanogr^'y^hy is pIso much to be desired, 

 which can be provided only from some headquarters at the seaside. 

 This requires a permcnent institution that would fur'iish the ex- 

 ample of actiial investigat:^ ons, carried on in fields chosen espec- 

 ially- to show the r^al scientific fertility of ocean-research, c^.nd 

 in locclities chosen to ii:'ustrate the fact that truly important 

 advancer:- can often be made near land, with compnratively inex^^en- 

 sive hO'ts and equipment: The same institution would serve also 

 for the stimulation of oceanogi'aphic researches in other institut- 

 ions, and for the development of cooperation between the several ag- 

 encies already active xn that field, private, governm.ental and in- 

 ternational. 



On geographical grounds, r^nd because of existing ins-i-itutioral 

 conditions, the Atlantic and Pacific coasts are best treated as se- 

 parate provinces in fi^is connection. On the pacific coast, where 

 there are several seaside laboratories already devoted wholly or in 

 pert to Oceanography, v/e believe the -^ost effe':tive course would be 

 financially to assist snl otherwise to strengthen these, comhired 

 with the establishment of som.e sort of inter- institutional bonrd to 

 serve as a clearing hous;; for information, nnd to encounge cooper- 

 ation between t--em. 



On f-e Atlantic coast, where no laboratory has ret been esta- 

 blished primarily for ocean researc''^os , and w''"ere the degree to 

 which the several marine biological laboratories can serve for head- 

 quarters is limited by the various factors alrerd"^?- outlined, support 

 could m.ost effentivel?/' be given through the foundation of n central 

 institution for Oceanogr^-nhy. '"e are convinced that in *he long 

 run, any such institution will benefit this science more by devot- 

 ing its energies to supporting education, by planning its first- 

 hand investigations to serve as examples, and b;; encouraging cooper- 

 ation, than it could by spendinr- its resources on a succession of 

 exneditions , unless these resources ""ere practicsll^^ limitless. 



Such an institution could most effectively serve oceanograr^hy 

 in tVe following ways: (1) It should, itself, carry on field in- 

 vestigations in a 'Vide varietv of those fields o""" sea-science thrt 

 lend t^-emselves m-ost directly to svnthesis. If the institution be 

 fitly located, allo'"ing roadv access to •■'/aters that illustrate a 

 wide rnnge of ocean phenomena, biological nnd Physical (and f-'-e 

 northeastern co^st of North America offers an o':"portunitv unrivalled 

 in t^ is respect), this car be done ^''ell on s'-'-ort periodic cruises 

 with a small ship, cheap to operate. To t^is end, researches b-" 

 its own str.ff and bv visiting students from, universities and from_ 

 government institutuj ons should constantly be encouraged as its miOst 

 essential activity. It should m.amtain an oceanographic iournal. 



