NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 305 



Mr. Drewry. What is the status of the bottom topography mapping ? 



Dr. HoRNiG. All of our costs have been mapped m a general way, 

 but the east coast is now being mapped for the Geological Survey. 

 This is what I refer to in my testimony. 



Mr. Drewry. I think you said it was 70 percent of the east coast. 



Mr. HoRNiG. Yes. 



Mr. Drewry. What does that embrace? Does that embrace an 

 analysis of the conformation of the subsoil or contours of it ? 



Dr. HoRNiG. Perhaps Dr. Menard can tell you in detail. 



Dr. Menard. The sediments have been sampled along fairly closely 

 spaced lines, and in addition certain tools have been used to illustrate 

 the structure of the subbottom. Lines have been run from the coast- 

 line to the edge of the Continental Shelf, from Florida to Maine, so 

 the subbottom structure is known. 



In addition, there has recently been a drilling program to confirm 

 and relate some of the subbottom information with other data. 



Mr, Drewry. Who is performing this? The Coast and Geodetie 

 Survey ? 



Dr. Menard. The Geological Survey has an arrangement with Dr. 

 K. O. Emery at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 



Mr. Drewry. Wlio is providing ships ? Woods Hole ? 



Dr. Menard. Woods Hole is providing the ships. 



Mr. Drewry. What is the Coast and Geodetic Survey ? 



Dr. Menard. For 30 years in my memory, they have been mapping 

 our continental shelves ; that is why we have maps. 



Mr. Drewry. Are the maps up to date ? 



Dr. Menard. I believe Assistant Secretary HoUomon's testimony 

 indicated that the boat sheets may be 2 years ahead of the final prmted 

 maps. 



Mr. Drewry. Well, coming back to the Coast and Geodetic Survey. 

 I do not know whether they did not ask for them or whether they 

 were not approved by the Bureau of the Budget, for ships this year. 

 But is it not important that we have just about as complete knowledge 

 and actual charts of the Continental Shelf more than ever at this 

 time? 



Dr. HoRNiG. I think that is correct. I am not aware, though, of a 

 shortage of ships at the present time. At the time we reviewed the 

 program last spring, it seemed to me the more serious problem was 

 to provide funds, to meet the operating expenses of the ships already 

 commissioned. 



Now, perhaps Secretary Morse can amplify that, but I believe the 

 statement is correct. 



The problem of keeping our ships returning from the Indian Ocean 

 in operation was a more serious problem than that of constructing 

 new ships. 



Mr. Drewry. That is a serious problem ? 



Dr. HoRNiG. Yes, but I am not aware of an overt shortage of ships 

 at the present time. 



Mr. Drewry. Would you be able to compare our knowledge of the 

 Atlantic Continental Shelf with the knowledge which the Russians 

 or others have gained, or is this a field in which we are satisfied we 

 know more about it than they do. 



