MARINE SCIENCE 
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1961 
U.S. SEnarE, 
CoMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND ForREIGN COMMERCE, 
Washington, D.C. 
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 11 a.m., in room 5110, 
New Senate Office Building, Hon. Warren G. Magnuson (chairman of 
the committee) presiding. 
The Cuarrman. The committee will come to order. 
The committee will now consider S. 901, the marine science and 
research bill. We have many witnesses who have come from all 
over the Nation to testify, and we want them to have ample oppor- 
tunity to be heard on various phases of the bill. 
S. 901 is a somewhat broadened version of S. 2692, which was ap- 
proved unanimously by this committee last year and which passed 
the Senate without a dissenting voice. All of the departments and 
agencies designated in S. 2692 to participate in the projected 10-year 
a oceanographic program are included in the same manner in 
. 901. 
In the new bill, however, the U.S. Coast Guard has been added. I 
am sure it can make an important contribution to the overall scien- 
tific program. 
S. 901 places somewhat more emphasis than did S. 2692 on the 
medical implications of oceanographic research, scientific instrumen- 
tation, utilization of weather ships and other vessels stationed far 
out in the ocean, and Weather Bureau marine studies. Provisions in 
S. 2692 for construction of new research and survey ships and new 
laboratory facilities are retained in S. 901. 
S. 901 also proposes a broad education and training program for 
prospective marine scientists. 
Throughout the bill the Great Lakes are on an equality with the 
oceans. Indeed, from a scientific standpoint, I consider them as an 
inland ocean, of equal importance to our economy and welfare. 
Scientists who have had an opportunity to study S. 901 tell me that 
it is, in their opinion, a better bill than S. 2692, which the committee 
approved last year. 
Now a word as to need. 
Witnesses at today’s hearings will tell you of the needs of their 
particular laboratories or groups. : 
Witnesses at later hearings will tell you of the needs from the 
standpoint of national security and welfare. 
Considerable emphasis may be placed at this year’s hearings on 
the treasure we gain from the oceans and the Great Lakes—the 
Nation’s fisheries, and on our lag in exploration and research in this 
area. 
1 
