MARINE SCIENCES AND RESEARCH ACT D7, 
ships be increased from $2 million per annum to $3,400,000 per an- 
num. As no new ships are now being constructed by the Depart- 
ment for fisheries research and exploration and as none will be com- 
pleted for several years when and if the Department constructs such 
ships, no need exists at this time for increasing the amount specified 
in the limitation. 
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 
Section 7 would authorize and direct the Secretary of Commerce, 
with such funds as may be appropriated or otherwise made available to 
him, to undertake a 10-year program of study and research as part 
of the general program to advance the marine sciences in the United 
States and specifically to do the following: 
1. Request and obtain cooperation from other Government agencies 
having an interest in the marine sciences and surveys, and to cooper- 
ate with educatioral institutions, laboratories, and public and private 
organizations which may be of assistance in the program. 
2. Establish within the Department of Commerce a National 
Oceanographic Records Center to collect from other agencies and 
departments of the Federal Government, agencies of the several 
States, oceanographic institutions and laboratories and other sources, 
all oceanographic data, and prepare and disseminate such data for 
public use. 
3. Replace, modernize, and enlarge in number the oceangoing ships 
for use in ocean and coastal surveys by the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey. 
4. Construct and operate shore facilities for the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey and provide instruments and equipment essential for efficient 
use of these facilities and survey ships. 
5. Inaugurate in the Weather Bureau a comprehensive 10-year 
study of the interchange of energy between the oceans and the at- 
mosphere, and to prepare, based on such study, climatological maps 
illustrating the balance of incoming and outgoing radiation and heat 
exchange between the oceans and the atmosphere. These studies 
may be carried out by the Weather Bureau through contracts with 
public or private orgavizations, or by grants to scientific institutions. 
6. Require the Maritime Administration to construct ships of 
approximately 500 tons and 1,200 to 1,500 tons displacement specifi- 
cally designed for basic oceanographic research, and meeting the 
scientific requirements of quiet operation, sea keeping and handling 
qualities at low speeds, efficient and economical scientist-crew ratios, 
and suitable laboratory space and- power for winches and other 
equipment. When completed these ships would be made available, 
at the discretion of the Secretary, to nonprofit oceanographic research 
centers, other agencies of the Federal Government, or State 
institutions. 
The needs and problems of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Weather 
Bureau, and Maritime Administration previously have been touched 
on in this report. The needs for a National Oceanographic Records 
Center have not. 
The recommendation of the Committee on Oceanography follows: 
A data center for all oceanographic research should be 
established for the storage, routine processing and ‘“‘read-out”’ 
