196 MARINE SCIENCE 
Now, I am not so sure this might not be the substance of your 
testimony. So, we will put that in the record in full along with the 
Presidential message and the Treasury reports, my statement, and any 
other matter the Coast Guard wishes to add to it. 
We will leave the record open 8 or 4 days—you might want to send 
a further brief statement enlarging a little on this report—but it is 
quite complete. If we could get in this week sometime we could 
close the hearings and get the bill on its way. 
Admiral Hirsurterp. Yes, sir, certainly. 
The CuatrmMan. We thank you very much for that. 
(The documents follow :) 
Members of this committee have long been aware that the U.S. Coast Guard 
has a tremendous potential for acquiring much valuable oceanographic data 
quickly and at minimum cost, utilizing vessels of its existing fleet. 
The Coast Guard also has been cognizant of this as indicated in a report 
prepared last fall at my request for the committee and which will be included 
in today’s hearing record. 
The report lists the classes of ships operated by the Coast Guard and the 
oceans or areas to which they are assigned and analyzes the capabilities of 
each class for scientific research. 
Statutory restrictions have prevented the Coast Guard from undertaking 
independent oceanographic research except on a very limited scale and that 
principally in connection with the Ice Patrol. 
To correct this inadequacy S. 901, to authorize a national oceanographic pro- 
gram, includes the Coast Guard under section 17 and 18 of the bill, which was 
introduced on February 9. 
On March 2, I introduced S. 1189 which is similar in intent to sections 17 and 
18 of S. 901 but which is applicable only to the Coast Guard and not to other 
agencies or services of our Government. 
In my remarks to the Senate at the time I introduced 8. 1189 I included 
a summary table of Coast Guard vessels excerpted from the report referred 
to above. 
On March 29, Preseident Kennedy, in a letter to Vice President Johnson 
stated as follows, and I quote: 
“At present, the Coast Guard enabling legislation limits the extent to which 
the Coast Guard can engage in scientific research. Only the International Ice 
Patrol is authorized to make such studies. I recommend that the statutory 
limitations restricting the participation by the Coast Guard in oceanographic 
research be removed. With ocean weather stations, deep sea thermometers, 
and other data collection devices, our Coast Guard can make a valuable con- 
tribution to the oceanographic program.”’ 
In my opinion the Coast Guard should be freed from its present statutory 
anchor chains to make the contributions to our scientific knowledge of the 
oceans of which its officers and personnel are so eminently capable. 
STATEMENT OF VicE ApM. JAMES A. HiIrRSHFIELD, USCG, AcTING COMMANDANT, 
U.S. Coast Guarp, on S. 1189 BEFoRE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE 
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity to 
appear before you during your consideration of S. 1189. 
This proposed legislation to authorize the Coast Guard to carry on oceano- 
graphic research, is in consonance with the expressed desires of the President 
as regards the national oceanographic program. In his letter to the Congress 
dated March 29, 1961, the President recommended that statutory limitations 
which now restrict Coast Gaurd participation in oceanographic research be 
removed. 
I feel that the enactment of S. 1189 or its equivalent, will grant the Coast 
Guard general authority in this field and will permit the greater utilization of 
the Coast Guard in the national oceanographic effort. In this connection, Mr. 
Chairman, I refer to the Commandant’s letter to you dated November 14, 1960, 
wherein was furnished a complete report concerning the activities and potential 
