MARINE SCIENCE 173 
COMMUNICATION From Mr. K. Roperr HAHN, EXxrecurive Vicr PRESIDENT, 
Lear, Inc., Santa Monica, Carr. 
Marou 17, 1961. 
Subject: S. 901. 
Hon. Senator Warren G. MAaGNuson, 
Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 
U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 
DEAR SENATOR Macnuson: We have read with a great deal of interest your 
proposed bill for Marine Sciences and Research Act of 1961, and sincerely believe 
that a national oceanographic program and policy should be enacted. There ig 
a need for strong leadership, direction, and coordinated long-range planning in 
this total effort and assurance that multiprogram efforts are not duplicated and 
wasteful within the several Government agencies and private institutions. With 
this kind of leadership, there will be a tremendous payoff to our national welfare 
and defense. 
This program is long overdue and you can count on our support in assisting 
in anyway we can to support enactment of this legislation in 1961. 
Very truly yours, 
K. Rosert Haun, Lerecutive Vice President. 
CoMMUNIcATION From Dr. F. E. Eviiort, ADVANCED UNDERSEA WARFARE ENGI- 
NEERING, DEFENSE ELECTRONICS DrvISsiIon 
GENERAL ELECTRIC Co., 
Ithaca, N.Y., March 16, 1961. 
Hon. Wagren G. MAGNnuson, 
U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 
My Dear Senator Magnuson: Thank you very much for the copy of S. 901, 
and let me congratulate you on the excellent work you and your committee have 
done. 
Since you are inviting comments and suggestions, I would like to make a recom- 
mendation. I believe that the bill would be greatly enhanced if the Congress 
would authorize the establishment of a central interagency clearinghouse for 
oceanographic instrumentation. 
One of the great problems connected with oceanographic instrumentation is 
that most equipment is built at institutional laboratories, works only for the 
individual who has built it, and does not lend itself to production. However, 
there is a great deal of development and production know-how in private indus- 
try, and also a willingness to contribute to this great oceanic development pro- 
gram. At the present time there is no central place in the Government where 
industry can go to get information on what is needed; nor where to offer an 
instrument that has been designed; nor where to submit a proposal. It is very 
time consuming and therefore costly to make the rounds from agency to agency, 
bureau to bureau, department to department, ad infinitum, only to learn later 
that one has missed the unit that has an urgent need for a certain piece of equip- 
ment. 
Much time and money could be saved and duplication avoided by having this 
clearinghouse, which should be abreast of the needs of the 16 Federal agencies 
mentioned on page 6 of S. 901, and should be aware of who is doing what. In 
other words, those in private industry who are willing to contribute their engi- 
neering resources and know-how cannot only be informed of the needs, but also 
be directed to the appropriate person in case he wishes to offer specific instru- 
ments, systems, ete. . 
My recommendation is based on over 10 years’ experience as an oceanographer 
with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Navy Hydrographic Office, 
and the General Electric Co. 
i 1, 
Sincerely, Francis BE. ELxiorr. 
