MARINE SCIENCE 141 



In other fields, this dual role, of conducting its own research and of supporting 

 research through grants and contracts to universities and other institutions, is 

 being played actively and successfully by other Government agencies. The Navy 

 (with a large granting unit in ONR), the National Institutes of Health, and the 

 Department of Agricultui-e are good examples of this. 



It appears important for the Nation to make more use of the many excellent 

 facilities for research in the universities and independent laboratories. It will 

 not be questioned, I think, that the fisheries are in great need of all the scientific 

 assistance they can get, in addition to that supplied by the Federal Government. 

 Furthermore, the training of oceanographers and fishery scientists that accom- 

 panies the research in universities, and which would be greatly strengthened by 

 long-term support of research there, is vital to the Nation in supplying a reserve 

 of scientific personnel to staff the increased programs envisioned by your bill. 



Section 5 of your bill gives the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries authority and 

 direction to "make grants * * * for basic and applied research programs * * *", 

 but section 6 does not clearly follow this with authorizations of appropriations, 

 since section 6e authorizes funds for studies "of utilization of marine products 

 for human consumption * * * etc.," while the funds for "m.arine population 

 sampling, biological surveys, etc.," are given solely to supplement the Bureau 

 of Commercial Fisheries' budget. Furthermore, the money in section 6e can, 

 apparently, be used either by the Bureau itself or be used for grants and con- 

 tracts. This opens the way to the same fatal difficulties faced by the Saltonstall- 

 Kennedy program. 



It is suggested that the intent of section 5, that the Bureau of Commercial 

 Fisheries make grants and contracts, be spelled out more clearly in section 6. 

 I suggest that half the sums named in sections 6d and 6e should be set aside for 

 grants and contracts, the other half to be used by the Bureau to expand its own 

 operation. 



The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries would set up an office to handle grants 

 and contracts under this system. They should, I think, also use the system em- 

 ployed by NSF and NIH, sending proposals to a committee (permanent or ad hoc, 

 or a mixture) of qualified scientists outside the Government for evaluation. In 

 this way the scientific merit of proposals would be given a harder scrutiny than 

 they would if only Bureau personnel read them. 



I have discussed these proposals with the Director and some of bis staff in 

 the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, and have received a favorable reaction. 



I would be pleased to discuss this matter further with you and I would appre- 

 ciate the privilege of testifying when the bill is considered in committee. I hope 

 it will come up soon. Would you be good enough to tell me whether hearings 

 have been scheduled? 



Please be assured of my deep interest in seeing your bill passed, and of my 

 appreciation for the fine efforts you have made in behalf of the fisheries of the 

 United States in sponsoring this legislation. 

 Sincerely, 



O. P. IDYXL, 



Head, Fisheries Division. 



The Ohio State University, 

 Natural Resources Institute, 

 Columijcs, Ohio, March 25, 1960. 

 Hon. Warren G. Magnuson, 

 Congress of the United States, 

 U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Senator Magnuson : I have learned recently of your bill on oceanography 

 (S. 2692) and wish to express appreciation for your interest and initiative in 

 preparing and introducing this desirable legislation. There is, as you have 

 observed a critical need for basic research concerning our great coastal and in- 

 land waters, particularly as it relates to basic productivity of food fishes. Basic 

 research in this area has suffered both from lack of support and especially from 

 lack of consistent support for the long-range studies. 



In our experience, the National Science Foundation has not proved to be a 

 satisfactory source of support for such studies. There seems to be a feeling 

 that any study which has any possibility of practical application is not eligible 

 for support from that source. There is thus a need for a basic fisheries research 

 program administered by an agency which is concerned with the outcome of such 

 research. 



