322 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



Dr. Morse. I do not feel qunlified to comment on that. I just have 

 not had enough experience in that. I can say that the statement was 

 written not in the Bureau of the Budget, but by my staff. 



As a general policy, I do not think I am the one to say. 



Mr. Rogers. How much time are you able to spend on oceanography, 

 Dr. Morse ? 



Dr. Morse. I spend personally — of course, it fluctuates, depending 

 on the time of year. I would say on the average I spend about 10 or 

 15 percent of my time, which is not based on a 40-hour week. 



Mr. Rogers. Yes ; I understand. 



Now, should we — there w^ere suggestions that we should create two 

 core departments, perhaps you heard that testimony. 



Dr. Morse. No, sir ; I heard the testimony on both occasions. 



Mr. Rogers, That was by the Commerce Department, and I notice 

 that the Commerce Department in the field of research only has about 

 a budget of $1.4 million, and this is supposed to be one of the core 

 departments as suggested by Commerce in this field, although Navy, 

 spending $32 million. Interior with about $14 million, and the Na- 

 tional Science Foundation with some $25 million. 



What is your reaction to that suggestion ? 



Dr. Morse. Well, I heard Dr. Hollomon's testimon3^ and I also was 

 here when Dr. Hornig commented on it this morning. I endorse what 

 Dr. Hornig said and I might add to that. 



I think it depends veiy much on what is meant by physical oceanog- 

 raphy. I think it is very clear that in terms of research, and much 

 of the research that you have talked about that is in the Navy, par- 

 ticularly within the Office of Naval Research and within the National 

 Science Foundation, to an oceanographer would be physical oceanog- 

 raphy — ^that is, it is directed at making physical studies of the ocean. 



I think it would be a mistake to transfer that program either bodily 

 or even by direction, that is by supervision, to the Commerce Depart- 

 ment. I say it for certain abstract reasons, which I think Dr. Hornig 

 stated very well, but I also believe in it for pragmatic reasons, because 

 I think these programs are going very well and I think in terms of the 

 overall problems facing the national oceanographic picture, I think 

 that is perhaps the one, that is in physical scientific kinds of oceanog- 

 raphy, perhaps the one that is best coordinated. It is the one that is the 

 healthiest. It is not the focus of our outstanding issues today. 



However, if in Dr. Hollomon's testimony he really meant by physi- 

 cal oceanography the systematic surveying types of operations — and 

 I do not think this is — which are very essential, not only to the Gov- 

 ernment's programs, but internationally and certainly to industry, in 

 order to have this information available and have it covering large 

 areas of the ocean, that this activity is one which the Department of 

 Commerce traditionally has great competence in. 



Mr. Rogers. Do you think of surveying as really being research? 

 We already know how to do it, do we not, unless we are out on re- 

 search missions to find out how to do it differently ? 



Dr. Morse. I think it has been one of the areas which I have tried 

 to put a lot of attention to in not only acquainting myself with the 

 national program, but what the ICO's function is. We continually 

 try to get a better understanding of what is meant by oceanographic 

 survey. 



