54 MARINE SCIENCES AND RESEARCH ACT 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, 
Washington, D.C., May 16, 1960. 
Hon. Warren G. MaGnuson, 
Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 
U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 
Dear Senator Maanuson: Your committee has requested a report 
on 5. 2692, a bill to advance the marine sciences, to establish a com- 
prehensive 10-year program of oceanographic research and surveys; 
to promote commerce and navigation; to secure the national defense; 
to expand ocean resources; to authorize the construction of research 
and survey ships and facilities; to assure systematic studies of effects 
of radioactive materials in marine environments; to enhance the gen- 
eral welfare; and for other purposes. 
We are now actively engaged in carrying out certain types of ocean- 
ographic research. Therefore, while the Department of the Interior 
concurs in the objectives of this bill, we now have authority to carry 
on oceanographic research and do not believe the enactment of 8S. 2692 
is necessary at this time. 
S. 2692 is designed to implement the recommendations of the 
National Academy of Sciences for increased research in oceanography, 
as defined in their report “Oceanography 1960 to 1970.” That report 
outlines a proposed national program in this field. 
A generally recognized need for more knowledge about the oceans 
and aquatic resources has received much attention within and outside 
the Government. The National Academy of Sciences in preparing its 
report, obtained the advice of the Nation’s experts on the marine 
sciences. Their report indicates that the Nation would benefit if 
oceanographic research is expanded over the next 10 years. We con- 
cur in this opinion. In addition to the prospective benefits to naviga- 
tion, national defense, and atomic energy development, improvements 
in the supply, quality, harvesting and use of seafoods and sea resources, 
improved sport fishing and recreational use of the ocean will result 
from such expanded research. 
We believe it will be of interest to note that the program of research 
recommended by the National Academy of Sciences was submitted 
initially for examination and study to the Federal Council for Science 
and Technology that was established by the President. That Council 
appointed a special subcommittee to evaluate the proposal. This sub- 
committee recommended adoption of the program suggested by the 
National Academy of Sciences with certain modifications that were 
considered to be administratively and operationally feasible. The re- 
vised program has been adopted by the various governmental depart- 
ments, as reflected by their individual programs and budgets for the 
fiscal year 1961. 
This Department, as a result of the program recommended by the 
Federal Council for Science and Technology, now has an item of 
$2,055,000 for the construction of an oceanographic research vessel in 
its fiscal year 1961 budget for the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. 
That Bureau for some time has been actively engaged in research in 
the field of oceanography. Similarly, the Geological Survey of this 
Department is stepping up its activities in this field, as indicated by 
the fact that there has been a 50-percent increase, from $400,000 to 
$600,000 for this kind of research. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries 
