PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN OCEANOGRAPHY 25 



supporting research in marine biology. The Office of Education 

 in HEW is concerned with the education and training of oceanog- 

 raphers. The State Department has cognizance of various inter- 

 national fisheries commissions which do oceanographic research. 

 Moreover, the national oceanographic program will require 

 international cooperation and the help and participation of the 

 State Department will be needed. 



(4) The prime mission of the Council should be to develop and 

 coordinate a cooperative interagency national oceanographic 

 program. We believe that the Council can be particularly 

 effective in maintaining a balance between applied research, 

 basic research, facilities, ships, survey operations, international 

 cooperation, and education. 



(5) A substantial annual appropriation should be authorized 

 to the Council to enable it to better develop a balanced program 

 by direct transfer of such funds to various agencies for their 

 authorized purposes. 



(6) Adequate provision should be made for a small qualified 

 staff for the Council headed by a highly qualified scientist. 



(7) The Council should report on the progress of the national 

 oceanographic program directly to the President and via the 

 President to the Congress. 



(8) The Council aiid its staff should be located administra- 

 tively within the Executive Office of the President. 



I appreciate this opportunity of bringing these views on H.R. 4276 

 to your attention. 



Sincerely yours, 



RiCHAED C. ViLLER 



(For Athelstan Spilhaus, Acting Chairman) . 



Comptroller General of the United States, 



Washington, October 16, 1961. 

 B-1 40845. 



Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House of Representatives. 



Dear Mr. Chairman: Further reference is made to your letter ol 

 August 4, 1961, acknowledged on August 8, requestmg the comments 

 of the General Accounting Office concerning S. 901, 87th Congress, 

 1st session, entitled "An Act to advance the marine sciences, to estab- 

 lish a comprehensive 10-year program of oceanographic research and 

 surveys, to promote commerce and navigation, to secure the national 

 defense, to expand ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, to 

 authorize the construction of research and survey ships and labora- 

 tory facilities, to expedite oceanographic instrumentation, to assure 

 systematic studies of effects of radioactive materials in marine environ- 

 ments, to enhance the public health and general welfare, and for other 

 purposes." 



The general purpose of S. 901 is a matter of policy for the determina- 

 tion of the Congress. However, in the consideration of the bill, we 

 recommend the following clarifications : 



Section 8(a) of the proposed legislation authorizes appropriations 

 to the Coast and Geodetic Survey as are necessary for the construction 



of eight survey ships. The Coast and Geodetic Survey has requested 

 funds in the amount of $9,425,000 to be appropriated in fiscal year 



