OCEANOGRAPHY 1961 — PHASE 3 143 



year 1962 to carry on the Federal effort in oceanography. The total amount 

 requested for aU Federal agencies is approximately $97.5 million. Of this 

 amount, nearly $20 million is for the programs of the National Science Founda- 

 tion. We believe that if the amounts requested by the President for the Founda- 

 tion for fiscal year 1962 for support of oceanographic research activities are 

 provided by the Congress, they will enable the Federal Government to continue 

 to strengthen its oceanographic research activities in a sound manner. 



In addition, one of the primary objectives of H.R. 4276 is to assure that there 

 is a continuing national policy and program for carrying out the Nation's 

 oceanographic effort. Coordination of the activities of the Federal agencies in 

 this area is presently the responsibility of the Federal Council for Science and 

 Technology, whose chairman is the Special Assistant to the President for Science 

 and Technology. It is, of course, important, in the carrying out of the national 

 program, that full information be available with respect to the status of the 

 national effort, both public and private, and the needs in particular areas of this 

 endeavor. The National Science Foundation, in carrying on its support of basic 

 research in oceanography and related fields, keeps in close touch with oceano- 

 graphic research activities throughout the world. In this connection, we are 

 planning to issue, at appropriate intervals, reports on the status of oceanographic 

 research together with assessments, as appropriate, of national needs in this area. 



We are deeply mindful of the importance of oceanographic research to the 

 national welfare and are prepared to cooperate in any way possible to assure that 

 the oceanographic effort of the United States Is second to none. 



With respect to the proposed data center, such a center has been established 

 within the Hydrographic Office of the Department of the Navy, funded jointly by 

 the various Federal agencies concerned with oceanographic research activities. 

 We believe that this arrangement is proving to be quite effective. 



We feel that the matter of establishing a National Instrumentation Test and 

 Calibration Center should be given serious consideration. However, we are not 

 certain that a separate organizational arrangement should be established for 

 this purpose but believe that such a center might usefully be established within 

 one of the existing Federal agencies. 



With respect to the matter of vessels supplied by the United States, it has 

 been our general view that where such vessels are provided to educational or 

 other nonprofit institutions for research purposes, the considerations of allowing, 

 the grantee to retain title outweigh the advantages to be gained should title to, 

 the vessel be retained by the United States. On the other hand, we agree that^ 

 as a general rule, such vessels should be utilized only for the research purposes 

 for which they have been provided and that, when they are no longer being used 

 for such purposes, the vessels should be returned to the United States. Similarly, 

 such vessels should be available for Government use in time of emergency. 



The matter of increased taxonomic facilities at the Smithsonian Institution 

 we believe is one that the Institution is best qualified to assess. 



The Bureau of the Budget has advised us it has no objection to the submission^ 

 of this report. 



Sincerely yours, 



AxAN T. Watkhman, Director. 



Department of the Navy, 



Office of the Seceetaey, 

 Office of LEQisiiATivE Affairs, 

 Washington, D.C., May 26, 1961. 

 Hon. Herbert C Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House of Representatives, Washington, D.G. 



My Dear Mr. Chairman : Your request for comment on H.R. 4276, 87th Con- 

 gress, a bill to expand and develop the aquatic resources of the United States 

 including the oceans, estuaries, and rivers, the Great Lakes and other inland 

 waters, to enhance the general welfare, and for other purposes, has been assigned 

 to this Department by the Secretary of Defense for the preparation of a report 

 thereon expressing the views of the Department of Defense. 

 The purpose of the bill is as stated in the title. 



The Department of Defense subscribes to the objectives of this bill and indeed 

 recognizes the salutary effect which congressional inquiry into the state of the 

 marine sciences has in this area by its emphasis on oceanography as a progi'am 

 required in the national interest. The Department, however, is opposed to the 

 enactment of H.R. 4276 for reasons stated in the subsequent paragraphs. 



