182 MARINE SCIENCE 
We have become so captivated with “outer space” of late that we have tended 
to ignore the oceans. The testimony of Sumner Pike, former Commissioner 
of the Atomic Energy Commission, reminded your committee : 
“* * * it has become suddenly apparent that the ocean is of the highest 
importance to national defense, indeed to our survival. Jt seems unnecessary 
to emphasize here the possible results of the development of nuclear submarines 
and guided missiles. My own personal reaction can be phrased briefly : Another 
nation caught us practically unawares upstairs; for heaven’s sake don’t let the 
same thing happen to us down cellar. 
“With this problem thrust upon us, we become unhappily aware of the abysmal 
extent of our ignorance of the ocean in areas where knowledge both wide and 
accurate seems essential.” 
Important as is marine research from a military operations standpoint, it 
will also make possible significant contributions to our knowledge of weather 
forecasting ; economic benefits in the way of food, liquid fuels, and metallic 
minerals ; medical benefits of promise to all mankind. 
We in the Great Lakes area are gratified that S. 901 makes specific provi- 
sion for research in the Great Lakes. Testifying in Detroit before the Senate 
Select Commitee on National Water Resources, Dean Fontanna of the university 
had this to say: 
“Great Lakes research programs include such matters as determination of 
currents, study of underlake sediments, the productivity of the waters, water 
quality, waste dispersion and pollution, shore erosion problems, fish food organ- 
isms and the factors regulating their distribution, water transport, lake levels, 
chemistry and physics of water, and meteorology over the lakes. The results 
of such research studies can be of major benefit to navigation, to municipalities 
and industries using the lakes for water supply and waste disposal, to the 
construction of harbors and channels, to the prevention of beach erosion, to 
recreation, to fishing, both sport and commercial, and to the training of students 
in oceanography.” 
It would be my hope that passage of this bill would make it possible for the 
United States to get underway with an intensified program, A research ship 
in the Great Lakes would not only add to our knowledge of those great bodies 
of water, but we could utilize this “laboratory-sized ocean” for the study of 
most oceanographic phenomena. 
Count on my support in any way possible. 
Sincerely, 
Puitie A. HART. 
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, 
INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 
Ann Arbor, Mich., March 16, 1961. 
Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, 
Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 
U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 
Dear SENATOR MAGnusoNn: I appreciate your invitation to attend the March 
hearings on S. 901, but since I am unable to accept I will follow your sug- 
gestion and submit a statement of my views. 
First let me commend you and your committee on a timely and realistic 
attempt to meet the urgent needs of marine sciences in the United States. 
My comments are as follows: 
(1) If this legislation is to accomplish the stated objectives, the term “ma- 
rine sciences” should be interpreted in its broadest connotation—physical, chem- 
ical, and biological studies of the earth’s surface waters and the atmosphere 
over them. By definition then this would include the oceans, estauaries, rivers, 
and lakes. These waters represent a tremendous resource of increasing na- 
tional importance, and their efficient and effective utilization requires a thor- 
ough knowledge of their characteristics. 
(2) To advance marine sciences effectively it is essential that the major 
emphasis be given to basic problems rather than to specific waters or geo- 
graphical areas. Basic problems such as biological prcductivity and disposal 
of radioactive wastes, to mention only a couple of many, can be implemented 
equally as effectively through studies in fresh water as in marine waters. In 
fact, fresh waters, because of their small size and ready accessibility, may offer 
the advantage of economy of time and money in the conduct of research. It is 
