MARINE SCIENCE 141 
Dr. McLaveutin. I should now like to move on to consideration 
of the content of the bill. In regards to the present laboratories to 
be expanded, new laboratories to be built—referred to on page 3, 
lines 15-17—which alludes to “shore facilities adequate to service 
and supplement the research and survey fleets.” 
It would be my interpretation that these laboratories will be de- 
signed, expanded and specifically function as adjuncts to the vessels. 
This seems to restrict these laboratories and their research activities 
to that of functioning as service units and secondly as units supple- 
menting the type of research carried on by the oceangoing researcher. 
I would change page 3, line 16, to read “shore facilities adequate both 
to conduct independent marine research and to service and supple- 
ment the research and survey fleets.” 
Now I would like to refer to page 9, lines 3 and 4. Here the sum 
of $8,250,000 is provided for the construction of shore facilities for 
marine research. Are these facilities only to be adjuncts to the 
oceangoing vessels? I hope not. I would hope that here lies the 
foundation for an intensified effort to unify the various scientific 
disciplines—chemistry, biochemistry, taxonomy, pharmacology, and 
others oriented to this program of expanding our knowledge of the 
ocean. Such a focal point for the synthesis of these disciplines 
should permit the conquest of such complex problems as the bloom 
of organisms that cause poisonous tides. Even further advances in 
medicine might be made, perhaps through the extraction of pharma- 
cologically active substances from marine organisms and their en- 
vironment. ! : 
As you know from the research papers which you have, sir, this 
has been one of our main concerns, the obtaining of organisms and 
what do they produce into the environment, what toxins, what stimu- 
Jants, what vitamins. 
On. page 11 of the bill, lines 17 to 20, here again I suggest that the 
operation of these laboratories be made more flexible, and not so di- 
rectly tied to the vessels. 
T would like now to refer to page 16, line 6. I believe this section 
fails to consider the study of the productivity factors in the marine 
environment. The fish we consume were at one time “sun energy.” 
The basic “grass” of the oceans is the small—microscopic—organisms 
nanoplankton and phytoplankton. This “grass” is at the bottom of 
the food-chain pyramid. It is consumed by the next higher order of 
marine life—the copepods—which in turn are consumed by small 
fish, themselves consumed by large carnivors—man’s food. This 
““orass” to meat-on-the-table is based, therefore, on the production of 
untold billions of these micro-organisms. Vigorous laboratory and 
field studies on these organisms are important to the future produc- 
tivity of our fisheries. 
A minor point for your consideration : 
There are several places in the bill where universities are men- 
tioned. As colleges not affiliated in a university structure will un- 
doubtedly continue to contribute to the advance of the marine sciences, 
it would seem just that the word “colleges” be added in the following 
places: page 5, line 14; page 6, line 17; page 7, line 6. | 
And I have one last point which I consider extremely important. 
In spite of the Navy’s past record in supporting fundamental biologic 
