606 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



its oceanograpMc problems directly to a body specifically charged with the 

 solution of those problems and able, we presume, to provide study and solution. 

 It may be argued that a separate agency with its own staff may prove to be 

 somewhat more expensive than a coordinating agency which used available 

 facilities in various departments; however, if the programs envisaged are as 

 urgent as we believe theme to be, then the direct approach is the recommended 

 one. 



The foregoing four bills have been used as examples of four different types of 

 approaches to the resolution of a very important matter. Your attention is also 

 respectfully invited to the provisions of S. 2251 introduced by Senator Muskie 

 and others on July 7, 196.5. We presume that a companion bill will be introduced 

 in the House of Representatives and that this will eventually reach your com- 

 mittee if it has not already done so. This proposed legislation would establish 

 the very highest level of responsibility for marine and atmospheric affairs of the 

 Federal Government by providing a Department of Marine and Atmospher'ic 

 Affairs with a Secretary. The particular agencies which would become com- 

 ponents of the proposed Department comprise the very agencies which would, 

 under other proposed legislation, require coordination between them. Cer- 

 tainly the purposes of long-range oceanography and related programs would 

 be best served by such a grouping of present agencies into one department. A 

 fishery organization is compelled to view this type of a government organization 

 as the one most favorable to a continued development of fisheries and a proper 

 utilization of ocean life and resources. 



The domestic shrimp industry, through the National Shrimp Congress, is 

 pleased that so much energy and attention is being given to this major prob- 

 lem and is ready upon call from your committee, to answer such questions and 

 present such further views or recommendations as you may require. 



Statement by Student Donald E. Thomas, Jr., Aged 14 



My name is Donald E. Thomas, Jr., son of Dr. and Mrs. Donald E. Thomas. I 

 live in Mount Lebanon, Pittsburgh, Pa., and my father is a scientist at Westing- 

 house Atomic Power Laboratories. I am now in the ninth grade at Andrew W. 

 Mellon Junior High School. During the eighth grade I took a science course 

 consisting of oceanography which interests me very much. My teacher in eighth 

 grade was Miss Hogan and in the seventh grade Mr. Herbert New. I intend to 

 be a scientist so I read books on the subject and want to make this statement in 

 my own behalf. 



Because of my interest in oceanography. Representative Fulton asked me to 

 write a statement on the usefulness of oceanography study to my generation. So 

 I am presenting my views for the congressional Committee on Oceanography. 

 I think Congress should listen to young people, too. We can't vote, but I have 

 to pay taxes, so I should have some say. 



The supplies of minerals in our world mines are running out slowly and a new 

 set of mines is needed. For centuries our rivers have been carrying minerals in 

 their waters into the ocean where they remain as sediment. These minerals are 

 found on the floor of the oceans in deep layers. 



Oil has been found under the Gulf of Mexico. This means there was dry 

 land during the age of prehistoric animals. Oil, with the possibility of other 

 minerals of all kinds, is probably under the ocean floor. Some of these minerals 

 could be in sea plants, but the problem is to extract these minerals. Scientists 

 will certainly learn to mine these minerals during my generation. 



In the less distant future, there could be vast flsh farms for all kinds of sea- 

 foods in the oceans. On these farms, as the Japanese do today, we could grow a 

 vast quantity of food for the underfed people of the world. 



Military bases could be built on the ocean floor which would be free of air 

 raids. 



Let's stop ignoring 70 percent of the world's surface. I hope this committee 

 tells Congress and the U.S. people really to get busy on the oceans. I'm all for 

 it, and I'll pay my share. 



Ocean research will really amount to big advances for science and will surely 

 pay big retvirns. 



Truly the ocean contains the past and the future. 



