OCEANOGRAPHY 1961 — PHASE 3 369 



General Electric Co., 

 Advanced Electronics Center, 



Ithaca, N.Y., March 11, 1961. 

 Hon. George P. Miller, 

 U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



My Dear Congressman Miller: Thank you very much for the copy of H.R. 

 4276, and let me congratulate you on the excellent work you and your commit- 

 tee have done. 



Since you are inviting comments and suggestions, I would like to make a 

 recommendation. I believe that the bill would be greatly enhanced if the Con- 

 gress would authorize the establishment of a central interagency clearinghouse 

 for oceanographic instrumentation. 



One of the great problems connected with oceanographic instrumentation is 

 that most equipment is built at institutional laboratories, works only for the 

 individual who has built it, and does not lend itself to production. However, 

 there is a great deal of development and production know-how in private in- 

 dustry, and also a willingness to contribute to this great oceanic development 

 program. At the present time there is no central place in the Government 

 where industry can go to get information on what is needed ; nor where to offer 

 an instrument that has been designed ; nor where to submit a proposal. It is 

 very time-consuming and therefore costly to make the rounds from agency to 

 agency, bureau to bureau, department to department, ad infinitum, only to learn 

 later that one has missed the unit that has an urgent need for a certain piece 

 of equipment. 



Much time and money could be saved and duplication avoided by having this 

 clearinghouse, which should be abreast of the needs of the 16 Federal agencies 

 mentioned on page 6 of S. 901, and should be aware of who is doing what. In 

 other words, those in private industry who are willing to contribute their engi- 

 neering resources and know-how cannot only be informed of the needs, but also 

 be directed to the appropriate person in case he wishes to offer specific instru- 

 ments, systems, etc. 



My recommendation is based on over 10 years' experience as an oceanographer 

 with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Navy Hydrographic OflSce, 

 and the General Electric Co. 

 Sincerely, 



Francis E. Elliott, 

 Dr. F. E. Elliott. 



Beaufort, N.C, March 21, 1961. 



Hon. George P. Miller, 



The U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Sir: Thank you for sending me a copy of your bill H.R. 4276. As a 

 marine biologist, I have been following developments of the so-called oceanogra- 

 phy Act during the past 2 years. I wish to commend you on your efforts in the 

 House of Representatives to get action on this bill. I hope this year passage 

 can be achieved in both the Senate and the House for such a marine science 

 program. Research of this type is long overdue and is necessary for the general 

 welfare and defense of the country. Your work on making this possible is 

 greatly appreciated. 



Very truly yours, 



G. B. Talbox. 



State of New York, 

 Conservation Department, 



Division of Fish and Game, 

 Shellfisheries Management Unit, 

 Freeport, Long Island, N.Y., March 21, 1961. 

 Hon. George P. Miller, 



Chairman, Subcommittee on Oceanography, 

 House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 



Sir : Thank you very much for your letter of February 19, 1961. I read over 

 the proposed legislation and agree wholeheartedly on it. However, I would 



