8 MARINE SCIENCES AND RESEARCH ACT 
The bill would authorize appropriations for specified purposes to 
the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Maritime Administration, and the 
Weather Bureau and proposes cooperation with and by the Bureau of 
Standards. 
The Academy Committee reported separately on each agency, com- 
mencing with the Coast and Geodetic Survey. 
Commenting on the importance of this agency, the report states: 
The nautical charts and allied publications supplied by 
the Survey enable waterborne commerce, estimated in excess 
of $100 billion annually, to enter and depart from our coastal 
waters with complete confidence and assurance. * * * The 
Coast and Geodetic Survey, during its 152 years of service, 
has made splendid contributions to knowledge and to the 
progress of our Nation and the world. It cannot exist on 
past accomplishments, but must steadily move forward in 
the fields of science and engineering essential to its activities. 
Because of the fundamental nature of its activities, the Sur- 
vey must continue to play an important role in the destiny 
of the Nation and of the world. 
Then follows a critical analysis of the present capabilities of the 
Survey to fulfill its responsibilities. Excerpts: 
As a result of financial and staff limitations, the Survey, 
since World War IJ, has been forced into a production orien- 
tation. Its research and development activities have been 
severely neglected, with the danger of losses in its broad 
effectiveness to the Nation and in its stature as a dynamie 
scientific and engineering institution. 
In interviews with key officer and civilian personnel and 
in the review of written material relating to Survey opera- 
tions, a major concern was noted in all divisions about the 
inadequacy of data collection facilities. As an example, the 
Geophysics Division maintains eight geomagnetic observa- 
tories and a number of seismograph stations for the contin- 
uous recording of magnetic field fluctuations and of earth- 
quakes. This chain of observatories is undoubtedly too 
sparse for providing data of sufficient accuracy on magnetic 
and seismic conditions throughout the world, and is less 
dense than that of other technologically advanced nations. 
(The Soviet Union has 22 magnetic stations.) 
Appendix IV presents a sad picture of the condition of the 
Coast and Geodetic Survey fleet. Again, the personnel of 
the Survey have done a remarkable job in keeping outdated 
equipment operating effectively and producing quality prod- 
ucts with such equipment. It is apparent that funds in 
adequate amounts should be provided for reconditioning the 
better vessels of the fleet, replacing the most antiquated, and 
commissioning new vessels as required by the expanding 
program of the Survey. 
(App. IV lists the 15 ships of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, of 
which 5 are under 100 tons, 6 have a displacement between 100 and 
300 tons, and 4 vary from 1,106 to 2,600 tons. Six are described as 
in good condition, 2 fair, 5 poor, and 2 very poor.) 
