522 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



to over $17 million a year, not counting the construction of ships and 

 other research facilities. 



I might say, Mr. Chairman, although our plans for the current 

 year are not quite completely crystallized as our appropriation bill 

 has just been passed, that this figure will rise to over $20 million 

 in 1966. 



Finally, realizing that the exploration and comprehension of the 

 seas had been hampered by the lack of good research vessels and ade- 

 quate shore facilities, we have joined other agencies in an attempt to 

 improve the situation. Since 1958, we have supported the conversion 

 or the building of 12 major research vessels, plus numerous small 

 boats, and the construction or remodeling of some 37 shore facilities. 

 In 7 years, we have devoted more than $31 million to this cause. 



The Foundation is one of the original members of, and has actively 

 participated in, the Interagency Committee on Oceanography, which 

 has been very successful in coordinating and developing the Federal 

 oceanographic research program. The accomplishments of this com- 

 mittee have been remarkable, especially considering the short period 

 which has elapsed since the initiation of concentrated oceanographic 

 efforts. Our interest in the collection, storage, and dissemination of 

 oceanographic data follows yours, as is demonstrated by our strong 

 support of the National Oceanographic Data Center, which is oper- 

 ated and funded under an interagency agreement signed on December 

 23,1960. 



So far I have talked mostly about the National Science Foundation 

 to indicate that our interest and concern parallels that of the Con- 

 gress. Of course, that interest is equally strong in other agencies. Be- 

 cause of the combined, coordinated, and cooperative determination of 

 the members of the Interagency Committee on Oceanography, we now 

 have a strong and healthy scientific program in oceanographic re- 

 search. Oceanographic research has shown good progress over the 

 past few years ; I think it is well coordinated and strong. I am also 

 convinced that under the present structure it will contmue to develop 

 in accordance with the funds available. 



I would now like to turn to the potential resources of the sea and 

 their exploitation, a mai^ter that can be vital to the well-being of this 

 Nation. 



We know of the petroleum resources on the Continental Shelf, and 

 that millions of dollars per year are expended by private industry not 

 only for its immediate extraction for fuel and usable byproducts, but 

 also for obtaining information on the reserves which can be tapped 

 in the future. Likewise, we are well aware of the fact that chemical 

 companies extract magnesium from the sea water on the Continental 

 Shelf. 



The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries is continuing its efforts to 

 locate and find effective means for utilizing the fishery resources of 

 the oceans. The Corps of Engineers is searching the Continental Shelf 

 for sand deposits which can be used to replenish that lost by the 

 erosion of our beaches. The Navy is conducting an extensive program 

 in ocean engineering ; the results of this will not only be of value to the 

 military but also for civilian undersea technology. 



And, as mentioned earlier, results of potential economic value were 

 recently obtained as a byproduct of a scientific drilling project con- 



