NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 127 



Mr. Pelly. Once in a while people in Alaska think that some of 

 us down in Seattle are a little selfish, but I can assure you that basically 

 our policy is Avhat is good for Alaska is good for Seattle, and you 

 know how the business interests of Seattle have felt toward their No. 1 

 customer in Alaska. 



I notice that your particular bill, S. 1091, calls for a new agency. 

 Did you have hearings in the other body? 



Senator Bartlett. No; we haven't hacl hearings yet. We haven't 

 been as timely as this committee has in approaching this whole broad 

 subject. 



Mr. Pelly. I would say this: That you have been very busy over 

 there turning out legislation in your subcommittee and I commend 

 you for it because I know that you have had hearings and passed out 

 important legislation during this session of Congress in very sub- 

 stantial numbers. 



Senator Bartlett. There has been no lack of bills. 



Mr. Pelly. I wish we had acted on some of them. I was wonder- 

 ing about H.R. 912, wliich may be the Elvers bill; I think that also 

 called for a new agency. 



Senator Bartlett. I am not sure if that is the number of the House 

 bill. 



Mr. Pelly. In looking through what is called a compilation of 

 oceanography bills to be considered by tliis subcommittee, I notice it 

 includes the report from the executive office of the President, and 

 there the Director, Donald Hornig, has indicated a very strong pref- 

 erence for the other approach; namely, the approach of our chair- 

 man's bill, and some of us have introduced similar bills, which is a 

 quite different approach. 



I think that you were in conference on an oceanographic bill once 

 with some of us on this committee and we thought we could work our 

 will against the views of the Wliite House and we got a veto on a bill, 

 and that is why maybe we are here today. 



Senator Bartlett. I would think that would be one reason, I think 

 at that time too there was not even as much comprehension of the 

 importance of this whole broad subject as there is today. It is my con- 

 viction that as this understanding grows throughout the country we 

 of the Congress will have better opportunity to send down to the 

 "N^^iite House legislation which will do the job and which will be ap- 

 proved. 



Mr. Pelly. I think our chairman of the House side has done a tre- 

 mendous job • 



Senator Bartlett. I agree wholeheartedly. 



Mr. Pelly (continuing). In trying to work out some of the differ- 

 ent viewpoints. I am confident that will happen. I might just ask you 

 a question or two with regard to your statement. 



You referred to the 1958 Fishery and Continental Shelf Convention 

 which has expanded our resources so vastly, as you have pointed out. 

 Have the Russians signed that convention ? 



Senator Bartlett. The fishery convention ? 



They signed the Continental Shelf, but not the Fishery Convention. 



_Mr. Pelly. They recently signed I think a convention or a treaty 

 with us covering king crab. 



Senator Bartlett. Not a formal treaty. 



