310 OCEANOGRAPHY 19G1 — PHASE 3 



their life history. These are the areas which are undergoing rapid 

 change by agricultural, industrial, and economic development. These 

 changes have already made serious inroads on our anadromous fishes. 

 The Atlantic salmon, the Pacific salmon, the shad, the steelhead, the 

 striped bass, the alewives, sturgeon and sea trout have all been 

 severely depleted. These are the marine fishes which depend upon 

 fresh water for spawning. I think your question about the futility 

 of trying to separate fresh water from ocean phases of this program 

 Mr. Bauer, is very pertinent when we consider the tremendous prob- 

 lems of salmon conservation. There is no way to separate the two 

 phases, at least from a fisheries standpoint. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Has not pollution been a factor in the destruction of 

 these fish that live in salt water and spawn in fresh water? 



Mr. Paul. It is certainly a most serious factor. 



Not quite so vulnerable are many other valuable marine species 

 such as the flounder, fluke, croaker, weakfish, sea trout, red drum, 

 kelp bass, rockfish, tarpon and snook. Nevertheless these fishes are 

 characterized by q. limited range, inshore-offshore migrations and a 

 dependence on estuaries during some stages of their life cycles. Be- 

 cause of this they are subject to the same adverse influences as the 

 anadromous species — pollution, sedimentation, channeling, dredging, 

 ditching diking and spraying, the effects of which are insidious and 

 difficult to detect until it is too late. Yet we know virtually nothing 

 about these species and their relationships to their environments. 

 Marine biology is following far behind physical, chemical and geo- 

 logical oceanography. Unless we make a substantial effort in this 

 field soon we may be in a position of knowing all about a house empty 

 of inhabitants. 



In this connection your attention is called to Resolution 5 "En- 

 couragem_^ent of Biological Aspects of Oceanographic Research" 

 adopted by the American Fisheries Society at its annual meeting, 

 September 1959, as follows : 



Resolution 5 — Encouragement of Biological Aspects of Oceanographic 



Research 



Whereas the American Fisheries Society has constantly encouraged biological 

 research in marine and inland waters since 1870 ; and 



Whereas the National Academy of Science-National Research Council has re- 

 cently published reports pointing out the Nation's critical need for an expanded 

 oceanographic research program ; and 



Whereas the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have each created 

 a special committee to study oceanographic problems and recommended new 

 legislation and programs to implement the National Academy of Science-National 

 Research Council reports ; and 



Whereas a careful study of these reports and publications indicated that 

 the biological aspects of the proposed program are subordinated to other dis- 

 ciplines : Now, therefore, be it 



Resolved, That the society (1) commends the administration and the Con- 

 gress for the interest they have expressed in expanding the national effort 

 in oceanographic research; (2) expresses its concern that the vitally important 

 biological aspects of the oceanographic research program be given more adequate 

 recognition in the development and implementation of plans ; and be it further 



Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to Dr. George Kistiakowsky, 

 chairman of the Federal Council for Science and Technology, to the president 

 of the National Academy of Science-National Research Council, to the House 

 Merchant Marine and Fisheries Subcommittee on Oceanography, and to the 

 Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. 



