MARINE SCIENCE 183 
important to use the waters best suited to solve a particular problem; in one 
instance it may be the oceans and in another fresh waters. 
(3) Scientific personnel qualified to carry out the proposed program in ma 
rine sciences must be drawn both from the fields of oceanography and limnol- 
ogy. The objectives, methods, and the equipment of limonology and ocean- 
ography are basically the same, and in many instances a person trained in one 
field eventually works in the other. 
(4) The role of our Great Lakes in advancing the marine sciences is note- 
worthy, and I am pleased with the recognition they have received in your bill. 
In several respects these large lakes are intermediate in characteristics between 
the small inland lakes and the oceans, and therefore lend themselves uniquely 
to certain kinds of investigations. Their evident lacustrine features are (1) 
possession of both inlets and outlets, (2) typical lake thermal characteristics, 
and (3) low salt content. Their oceanic characteristics are (1) visible effects 
of Coriolis force (the apparent tendency of wind-driven surface water to move 
to the right of the wind direction), (2) distribution of updwellings and sinking 
according to the relationship of current streamlines and the shore, and (3) 
the presence of distinct water masses. 
The Great Lakes afford the following advantages in the conduct of marine 
research: (1) Their size and ready accessibility make investigations economical 
in respect to time and outlay of equipment; (2) most oceanographic phenomena 
exist in the Great Lakes and in such scale that the lakes may be considered as 
laboratory-sized oceans; (3) lack of pronounced tides and high salinities make 
Many research problems simpler and more readily solvable in these lakes than 
in oceans; (4) low electrical conductivity of fresh water and its much less 
corrosiveness make possible a rapid and economical testing and development 
of instrumentation; and (5) the existence of scientific research and training 
centers in the Great Lakes States, such as the Universities of Michigan, Wis- 
eonsin, Minnesota, and Ohio State, which contribute to the national effort in 
marine sciences and are a source of trained personnel. 
I look forward to the success of this legislation and greatly appreciate this 
opportunity to express my views. 
Sincerely yours, 
Davin C. CHANDLER, 
Director, Great Lakes Research Division. 
VIRGINIA FISHERIES LABORATORY, 
Gloucester Point, Va., March 17, 1961. 
Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, 
Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 
Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 
DeEaR SENATOR Magnuson: * * * I am writing to you in support of S. 901. 
I feel that the most important thing is to get the bill passed and, while 
some few changes would probably be useful, the present bill is a good vehicle for 
support of marine science. 
You may be interested in knowing that this marine laboratory is somewhat 
unusual among marine laboratories. Though a separate State agency, I make 
my budget plea directly to the Governor and general assembly, we also have 
academic affiliations with William and Mary and the Commission of Fisheries 
of Virginia. The interesting part here is that we are a separate State agency 
and our budget is not submerged in any overall university budget system or 
a superagency budget system. This has permitted excellent growth in recent 
years. I believe that, if possible, the marine science committee your bill pro- 
poses should have direct access to the Senate and House Appropriations and 
Finance Committees—or as direct as possible. This is the best way to assure 
adequate representation of the cause of marine science where it counts. And 
the cause of marine science merely deserves adequate representation because 
next to the land and atmosphere—in the future perhaps above the land— 
the sea is the most important portion of this planet. It is certainly the largest 
and it directly affects the economy of all countries and the lives of all people. 
As an agency head in State government one perhaps achieves a better under- 
standing of the machinery of government and the difficulties of legislation and 
financing. One also comes to appreciate the problems that conscientious legis- 
lators meet in attempting to achieve support of important projects. 
