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THE NAVY OCEANOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS PROGRAM 



Bottom-coring operations from U. S. N. S. Bent. 



support design and construction of bottom installations, opera- 

 tional methods of mapping and probing deep features are being 

 developed. Deep-towed echo sounders and side-looking sonars 

 are in testing and the Oceanographic Office is experimenting with 

 deep submersibles bearing metric camera systems. Use of deep 

 submersibles is particularly enhanced by the ability of the 

 oceanographer to make on-the-scene judgments on best places to 

 probe or sample sediments, an operation now done blindly from 

 surface ships. 



Although attainment of any substantial capability to make 

 detailed bottom surveys in deep water is some years away, the 



