MARINE SCIENCES AND RESEARCH ACT 59 
associated with activities in the area of biological and medical sciences 
and that physical oceanography continue to be associated with the 
earth sciences. However, as we mentioned earlier, we have added 
a full-time oceanographer to our staff. We do not feel that the activi- 
ties contemplated for the proposed Division of Marine Sciences 
necessitate the establishment of such a Division but can more appro- 
priately be carried out within the framework of the Foundation’s 
existing organizational structure. 
Section 4 of the bill would authorize appropriations, in addition to 
those otherwise authorized for the activities of the National Science 
Foundation, to provide funds for use in connection with specified 
oceanographic research activities. It appears to us that considerable 
care must be exercised so as to avoid creation of a general view that 
the provision of substantial additional sums for particular areas of 
science will automatically greatly improve the research situation with 
respect to such areas. In the case of oceanography, while additional 
sums are being requested by various Federal agencies, the major 
problem is to obtain a sufficient number of well-qualified people able 
to utilize such additional funds in ways which will be of substantial 
benefit to oceanographic research. We believe that, in view of the 
particular interest which has been focused on the field of oceanography, 
more persons will become interested in entering the field. However, 
until a considerable number of additional persons are trained to do 
high-quality scientific research in oceanography the provision of large 
sums for the support of oceanographic research will not of itself im- 
prove the research situation in the field. This is not to say that addi- 
tional sums are not desirable but merely to provide a word of caution 
as to the ability of available oceanographers to utilize greatly in- 
creased amounts of research money in a useful manner. The National 
Science Foundation and other Federal agencies are seeking funds of 
a magnitude which they believe can presently appropriately be 
utilized for oceanographic research taking into account, of course, 
needs in other areas of science. 
Subsection (b) of section 7 of this bill would establish within the 
Department of Commerce a National Oceanographic Records Center 
which would collect data on oceanography and disseminate it for 
public use. The desirability of such a center, and its location, if one 
is to be established, are currently under study within the executive 
branch and we believe it advisable to await these recommendations 
before any action is taken in this regard. 
In connection with subsection (c) of section 7, we would like to 
point out that for the Coast and Geodetic Survey to operate beyond 
the limits of the Continental Shelf a change in its basic authority will 
be necessary. H.R. 3450, introduced in the Ist session of the 86th 
Congress, would provide such authority to the Survey. 
Subsection (f) of section 7 would require the Maritime Adminis- 
tration to construct oceanographic research vessels to be made availa- 
ble to nonprofit research centers, to other agencies of the Federal Gov- 
ernment, or to State institutions engaged in oceanographic research 
requiring oceangoing ships. We feel that it would be preferable if 
the Federal agencies concerned with oceanographic research budgeted 
for such ships when and as they are needed, either for their own use 
or for use by private institutions. We believe that more appropriate 
roles for the Maritime Administration in this connection would be 
to (1) serve as adviser on design studies, (2) undertake construction on 
