254 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



Mr. Lennon. In other words, under existing- law today 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Lennon (continuing). This division or agency or administra- 

 tion within the Departnient of Commerce could not only contract as 

 you have already done for the study of the Continental Shelf 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Right. 



Mr. Lennon (continuing). But could contract to make oceanwide 

 surveys? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Yes, sir. And, in fact, we carry them out ourselves. 



Mr. Lennon. You are engaged in oceanwide surveys ? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Yes, sir. We have the only oceanographic ship, as 

 I understand it, outside of the Na^^, outside of the Military Establish- 

 ment, that can make such surveys. 



Mr. Lennon. Has there been such an ocean survey made by the 

 I)epartment of Commerce or any agency in the Department of 

 Commerce? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Yes, sir. We have been operating, as Admiral Karo 

 just commented, since 1961. The two areas with wdiich I am 

 familiar — ^there may be others — is an area off the coast in the Pacific 

 Ocean, a vertical 



Mr. Lennox. In wliat depth are those surveys, Mr. SecretaiT ? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Admiral Karo says anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 to 

 4,000 fathoms. 



Mr. Lennon. Mineral resources? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Xo. Here we take, in some cases, bottom sampling, 

 v.'hich are provided for the Interior Department to evaluate them as 

 mineral resources. 



We measure salinity, temperature, pressure, ocean currents, what 

 else? Depths gravity, magnetic characteristics, in an attempt to 

 describe the oceans. 



Mr. Lennon. Now, in those particular fields that you have enu- 

 merated, that you — is a comparable ocean survey being made by other 

 agencies of the Federal Government? 



Dr. HoLLOMON, Admiral Karo responds, and I simply repeat, not 

 outside of the l^axy ; not deep ocean surveys. No, sir. 



Mr. Lennon. This data, unless it relates to national security, is 

 interchangeable with the Department of Commerce and the Navy? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Yes, sir ; absolutel3^ 



Mr. Lennon. And with, of course, the other agencies of the Federal 

 Government. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Not only that, but, as I pointed out before, we have 

 representatives of other agencies and scientific community aboard those 

 ships when they make the surveys, and help define what the studies 

 will be. 



We had an Indian Ocean survey, for example, in which the ship 

 went out to the Indian Ocean, in part of the national program of 

 cooperation with other nations, and here we had members of the 

 scientific community aboard, and the type and character of the surveys 

 were fully integrated with the scientific commmiity. 



Mr. Lennon. Now, Mr. Secretary, did you testify before the Senate 

 Committee on Commerce? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. No, sir. I did not so testify. 



