NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 581 



the problems requiring correction still seems the best place to begin. We should 

 know the patient and his ills before prescribing treatment. Several of the bills 

 under consideration by the committee, and those by Congressmen Downing and 

 Rogers come immediately to mind, are pointed in this direction. 



Two cautionary notes should be added here. No matter what action is taken 

 at this time, every effort should be made to protect the healthy, competitive 

 aspects of marine science programs and avoid overcoordination and resulting 

 stultification. Further, should a permanent body be established, careful arrange- 

 ments must be made to provide mechanisms for continual review by members of 

 the various sectors of the oceanographic community, non-Federal as well as 

 Federal. 



In effecting such legislation, I would respectfully urge the committee to : 



(1) Encourage additional and increasing financial support of marine sci- 

 ence, and marine engineering. Both need far more support than they are 

 receiving and additional support is easily justifiable on many grounds. 



(2) Make special effort to see that the biological aspects of oceanography 

 are more adequately supported. In the broad sense, oceanography (better 

 still — marine science) includes biological oceanography which is perhaps the 

 most important segment to society and yet most support has gone in other 

 directions. It seems to be very diflicult to secure support for biological fa- 

 cilities such as marine biological laboratories, biological vessels, etc., par- 

 tially because funds for these things seem to be scarce. 



(3) Make sure that all sectors of the marine science community are repre- 

 sented in all stages of the deliberations and of the Council. 



(4) Take great pains to point up the importance of the roles of State 

 marine laboratories, colleges and universities, private institutions and in- 

 dustrial organizations in the development of knowledge about the oceans and 

 their exploitation. (Certain statistics about State efforts are already part of 

 the record of hearings of your committee.) Especially should the States be 

 encouraged to support of marine science. Federal funds should supplement 

 and not supplant State investments in oceanography. 



I am extremely interested in the oceanographic activities of the committee and 

 am willing to assist in its work. If I can do so, please call on me. 



Mr. Rogers. The next witness is Lt. Comdr. Don Walsh, former 

 commander of the Trieste. 



Commander, we are delighted to have you here and let the commit- 

 tee benefit from your experiences. I know you have had some un- 

 usual ones and we have admired your work a great deal. We are 

 pleased to have you give testimony today. 



STATEMENT OF LT. COMDR. DON WALSH, FORMER COMMANDER 

 OF BATHYSCAPHE "TRIESTE" 



Commander Walsh. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, it is in- 

 deed an honor and privilege for me to appear here again. 



I am afraid I Avill have to apologize for not having a prepared 

 statement in that my invitation was just received about this time yes- 

 terday. 



Mr. Rogers. We understand ; that is perfectly all right. 



Connnander Walsh. About half a decade ago I had the great pleas- 

 ure of testifying in some of the pioneering hearings held under the 

 auspices of the Science and Astronautics Committee under the spon- 

 sorship of my Congressman, Mr. George Miller. In this past ha,lf 

 decade I have watched with great interest the ebb and flow of con- 

 gressional interest in the ocean sciences and their organization. The 

 winds of change are blowing now and it is certainly expected by the 

 entire oceanographic connnunity that we will have some positive pol- 

 icy and direction from this body's deliberations. 



As a, perhaps self -professed, champion of ocean sciences and tech- 

 nology, I am in the somewhat ludicrous position now of being on the 



