136 



That leads to another question. I would like to be sure about the 

 lauffuaije that we are talkina: about. I have a very hard time with 

 definitions in this matter. Are we talking about oceanic basins as 

 meaning oceanic beds, and are w^e talking within that meaning about 

 that which is beyond the continental shelf, or the slope, or both? 



Are there three distinctions. Dr. James? Or four? 



Dr. James. In places the distinctions are very clear cut. Elsewhere 

 they fall down. 



Mr. Fascell. When you talk to your colleagues, what terms do you 

 use, so I will know what you are talking about? 



Dr. James. We use these terms, use them rather loosely. 



Mr. Fascell. Which terms ? 



Dr. James. The continental shelf, in general out to a couple of 

 hundred meters of depth, but that depth is not a really fixed one — is 

 the continuation of the i)rofile of the continent out into the Avater. 

 Then the continent slope, which is where the profile steepens abruptly. 

 This is most clearly shown, of course, off our east coast where it steep- 

 ens abruptly. Then that steei) slope gives way to a virtual plain with a 

 very low slope to it; now we are in the deep ocean. This is the deep 

 ocean basin. 



Complicating the issue, of course, is the existence of the mid-oceanic 

 ridges which comprise the greatest mountain chain on earth. 



Mr. Fascell. "VVliy does this complicate it ? 



Dr. James. This is part of the ocean. If we call them "oceanic 

 basins," the ocean basins include the greatest mountain chain on 

 earth. 



Mr. Fascell. You have a basin with a mountain in it ? 



Dr. James. Undoubtedly the greatest mountain chain on earth. 



Mr. Fraser. Why is it the greatest ? 



Dr. James. The most continuous, highest. 



Mr. Fraser. How high is it ? 



Mr. Frelinghuysen. Have you seen this map of the Indian Ocean 

 with the ridge running through it ? 



Mr. Fascell. Therefore, so we have some rather fundamental defini- 

 tions, but a little fuzzy on the edges, and only on some occasions. 



Dr. James. Essentially the ocean basins, as we speak of them, begin 

 at the edge of the continental slope and go out. There are a lot of com- 

 plications in that basin, such as the oceanic ridges. Fundamentallj', in 

 tenns of the crust of the earth, this is a different kind of terrain, differ- 

 ent country than the continents. 



Mr. Fascell. As Chief Geologist, do you have anything to do with 

 the Department of the Interior granting mining licenses to American 

 businessmen for exploration at depths of 4,000 feet, which is clearly 

 beyond the shelf or perhaps even beyond the slope? 



Dr. James. Yes, we grant leases. The Geological Survej- does super- 

 vise and issue such grants for exploration, and then later for exploita- 

 tion. It doesn't happen to be in my particular division. It is not under 

 me, as Chief Geologist. It is under the Conservation Division of the 

 Geological Survey. 



Mr. Fascell. Wlio heads that? 



Dr. James. Russell Wayland. 



Mr. Fascell. How does our Government go about granting a license, 

 a permit, a lease ? 



