NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 139 



do have an executive session of the Interstate and Foreign Commerce 

 Committee where we are trying to write some health bills and I may 

 be called upon to go over there. 



Mr. Lennon. You have another member waiting for the same rea- 

 son. Go ahead. 



Mr. Rogers. Mr. Chairman and fellow members of the subcommit- 

 tee, thank you very much for this opportunity to testify on legislation 

 concerning the U.b. efforts in the field of oceanography. 



As the author of H.R. 9064, which proposes a 15-member National 

 Commission on Oceanography, I am pleased that the subject will be 

 fully considered during these hearings, and hopeful that this Con- 

 gress will enact new legislation to intensify U.S. programs, research, 

 and operations alike, in oceanography. 



Oceanography is entering a new phase, and has become another 

 yardstick in the competition between the United States and Russia. 

 Even though we are in a race for first place in outer space, our na- 

 tional survival may ultimately hinge on how we utilize the oceans. 



Water covers three-fourths of the earth's surface, yet right now we 

 know no more about outer space than we do of the earth's "wet space." 

 The United States was recently successful in putting Astronauts ]Mc- 

 Divitt and AA^iite 170 miles into outer space, and in accomplishing a 

 space walk 170 miles above the earth's surface. 



However, the deepest "oceanauts" from any comitry have pene- 

 trated below the water's surface is approximately 7 miles, and none 

 have yet ventured beyond their environment to swim at that depth. 



Yet oceanography has immediate and applied results to be gained 

 from the vast, untapped resources of the seas. The earth's rising pop- 

 ulation may one day be fed from the oceans more than land, where 

 food sources diminish in ratio to population. 



Minerals are in large supply in the oceans, and advanced knowledge 

 of the feasibility of harvesting them may one day signal a milestone 

 in man's mastery of the earth. 



We are increasing the size of trained oceanography manpower in 

 the United States by approximately 10 percent per year. 



In this figure alone are we equal to the Soviets, and some experts say 

 they may be increasing their ranks by as much as 15 percent per year. 

 However, while we presently have approximately 700 oceanographers, 

 the Soviets have some 1,500. 



In terms of research vessels, the Soviet Union has sur]Dassed the 

 United States with ships of total 65,000 gross tons in weight. The 

 total weight of U.S. survey vessels comes to 60,000 gross tons. Here 

 again a narrow margin makes the action to be taken by the United 

 States in the next few years of critical importance. 



It must be emphasized that the Soviet effort is entirely mider tlie 

 direction of the Government of the U.S.S.R. It is a higlily organized 

 program directed with the force of totalitarian state. 



While our system allows more initiative and freedom, should the 

 Soviet Union suddenly decide to expand their program an even more 

 serious gap could exist between the United States and Russia. 



To concentrate on marine research as applied to animal life, the bulk 

 of U.S. efforts in this area are borne by the Bureau of Conmiercial 

 Fisheries. 



