NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 605 



to express its views in Washington. Nevertheless, it has been possible in 

 recent years through the National Shrimp Congress to coordinate and analyze 

 the problems of the domestic shrimp fishery and to present them appropriately 

 to the Congress or to the bureaus and agencies of Government concerned. The 

 nature of this industry is such that its principal administrative problems have 

 been mostly concentrated in the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Department 

 of the Interior, and, because of the high seas fishery, in the appropriate section 

 of the Department of State. Our scattered industry is not well equipi)ed or 

 organized, nor could it become so without a tremendous expense, to deal with a 

 number of Federal agencies in addition to the State agencies now involved. 

 Therefore, the domestic shrimp industry regards with a high favor the cen- 

 tralization of oceanographic programs (which will most certainly affect this 

 industry) in an agency of the Federal Government to which a direct approach 

 could be made by industry. 



In reviewing the several bills which have been introduced and are before the 

 subcommittee we find considerable merit in each of the approaches because it 

 is obvious that the need for centralization and organization of an oceanographic 

 program is recognized, thus : 



(a). H.R. 2218 has merit because it recognizes the scientific aspects of oceanog- 

 raphy and provides for an advisory committee to be consulted by the President, 

 as the result of which the President would report to Congress and ask for appro- 

 priations and legislation. This would, however, have the effect of scattering the 

 various oceanographic programs among the many department and agencies of 

 Government, each with its particular interest in one limited phase of oceanog- 

 raphy. The bill does not provide for a separate agency to handle oceanographic 

 programs and it would be difiicult to fix responsibility in the event of failure of 

 coordination. 



(b) H.R. 5654 is identical to S. 944 which has already received favorable action 

 in the Senate and which has excellent possibilities. Certainly the National 

 Oceanographic Council proposed therein is a high-level organization composed 

 of the Vice President, Cabinet members and other high officials of Government. 

 The impetus of having a program recognized at such a high level of Government 

 is undoubtedly beneficial. This bill also provides a Council with a working 

 staff so that with proper staffing it is envisaged that this Council would be in 

 an excellent position to advance oceanographic interests. It is noted that 

 the Council would appear to be more of a coordinating agency between the 

 various departments and agencies of the United States than the type of agency 

 which would in itself have the position and power to establish and execute 

 oceanographic programs. It would appear that the strength of this approach 

 lies in top-level representation of the membership and the weakness would lie in 

 the coordination between varioiis Government agencies. If a major coordi- 

 nated program were launched it is conceivable that the failure of the one 

 particular agency to cooperate or to obtain a sufficient allocation of funds, etc. 

 could result in some confusion and delay. Nevertheless, the National Shrimp 

 Congress would heartily endorse H.R. 5654 and hope that the top-level mem- 

 bers would impose on their respective departments a priority on oceanographic 

 programs agreed to by the Council. 



(c) H.R. 9064. This bill goes a step further organizationally by the estab- 

 lishment of a National Commission on Oceanography which to us in industry 

 appears more adequately to effect a partnership between Government, industry, 

 and scientists. It would appear that the individuals comprising this Commis- 

 sion would have primary interest in the subject matter and enthusiasm in the 

 carrying out of the program. However, it would not be a permanent commis- 

 sion but it would itndoubtedly, after envisaging comprehensive programs, 

 recommend the type of permanent body considered most desirable for carrying 

 out future objectives. Whether such an interim commission is necessary 

 or whether there is now available sufficient knowledge of the problems to enter 

 immediately upon the solution of them is beyond the knowledge of the writer. 

 This principle is, however, a sensible and systematic approach to a major 

 problem. 



(d) H.R. 921. This bill wovald immediately establish a permanent agency of 

 the Federal Government with the sole and primary purpose and plan of develop- 

 ing programs for oceanography and related sciences. The domestic shrimp 

 industry would certainly favor such an agency on the basis that it could take 



