MARINE SCIENCE 85 
It seems to me that there is a real opportunity that we should seize 
at the present time. We have spoken about the favorable climate 
between Federal and State administrations, the high degree of public 
interest and response, the more and more widespread scientific interest, 
the fact that our own congressional interest is turning to the sea, and 
the unanimous passage last year of S. 2692 and the introduction this 
year of S. 901 and various bills from the House is strong evidence 
that it is the will of Congress that our Nation embark upon an ex- 
panded, coordinated, continuing oceanographic program. 
The CHarrman. I don’t suggest that there was a lack of interest in 
the executive department in the past 8 years, but I do suggest from 
the conversations that I have had that there is a greater interest in 
this field at present than there was 2, 4, or 6 years ago. 
Dr. Revetis. A greater realization. 
The Cuatrman. And the needs become greater. 
Dr. Revewxr. In order to accomplish these objectives, we must pro- 
vide for a way of assuring continued development and coordination 
of this complex enterprise. 
A. §. 901 has just this objective as its primary thesis, and a bill has 
been introduced recently in the House with a somewhat similar ob- 
jective. 
B. While I am not an expert on legislation, there is a feature of 
both these bills with which I agree—although at first glance the bills 
are quite different; that is, the Senate and House bills. Both pro- 
vide for a continuing coordinating body with responsibilities for 
policy, programs, interagency coordination, information exchange, 
and evaluation of progress in the program. There are several pos- 
sibilities for such coordination. 
One possibility is what you have suggested, and that is the possibility 
of the establishment of a body within a Federal agency such as the 
National Science Foundation, as proposed in S. 901 with responsi- 
bilities for review, planning, and coordination. 
Another possibility might be the establishment of a National Bureau 
of Oceanography, or a Bureau of Marine Sciences. 
For a good many reasons I believe that neither of these is a desirable 
solution. Let me state my reason, or the principal reason. 
Oceanography is not a science like physics or chemistry or zoology. 
It is the application of many sciences to the study of most of the earth. 
Many Federal agencies in carrying out their mission have to know 
more about the oceans than they now know. It is true of the Navy; 
it is true of the Weather Bureau; it is true of the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey ; of the Bureau of Fisheries 
The CuHamrman. Conservatively, we have 16 Government agencies 
that are directly involved in this field. 
Dr. Revertz. That is right. And it would just impose another 
layer of bureaucracy if you should say that all of these needs should 
be met by a central bureau. AEC, for example, has special concerns 
and special needs for certain kinds of knowledge which is quite dif- 
ferent from the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries knowledge. 
The CuHatrman. Of course, we don’t know that this is exactly the 
way to handle it, and there may be a lot of other suggestions made 
as we move along, but as of now you would favor the suggestion in 
the legislation that the National Science Foundation be given thé 
