MARINE SCIENCE 143 



arises from the above stipulation. If the members were selected from or^aniza- 

 tions receiving (innncial assistance for oceanograpbio research some problems 

 may arise. Tln> rocipicnis of funds may find it difiicult if not awkward to de- 

 cide ou certain funding;- prol)lems if this were a function of the board. They 

 may likewise find them.selves in a similar situation with respect to advising on 

 the type of research endeavors necessary in oceanography. In view of this I 

 feel that at least some of the nongovernmental members should be selected from 

 a much larger segment of the scientific community. It may be difficult to find 

 scientific organizafmn.s who do not receive support from the Office of Naval Itc^ 

 search. Atomic Energy Commission, etc., however, there are those who do not 

 receive support of oc(>anographic studies. I think that these should be included 

 in the potential membership. 



(&) On page 9, item f, the sum of $3 million is requested for fellowships. I 

 agree that additional fellowships in science are urgently needed. However, I 

 question the stipulation "to graduate students training to become profe.ssional 

 oceauographers." All fellowships in the sciences should be on a single competi- 

 tive basis. Only those oceanographers or potential oceauographers who can 

 compete wath the best of the chemists, geologists, physicists, etc. should be con- 

 sidered. If a tight disciplinary system were set up it would result in situations 

 where a less qualified individual in one field obtained a fellowship at the expense 

 of a far more qualified person in another area. We cannot afford this ; with 

 limited fellowship funds only the most qualified can be considered regardless of 

 discipline. If oceanography or any other discipline cannot attract the capable 

 qualified student, it should surely not be guaranteed fellowship support. 



Again let me express my appreciation for your interest in the science of 

 oceanography. 



Very truly yours, 



Richard G. Badee, 

 Associate Prof essor of Oceanography. 



Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, 

 Gloucester Point, Va., Octobers, 1959. 

 Hon. Wakren G. Magnuson, 



Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 

 U.S. Senate, Washington, B.C. 



Dear Senator Magnuson : I appreciate your sending me a copy of Senate bill 

 2692 pertaining to oceanography. It is a very interesting document and will 

 probably instrument expansion of scientific effort in a vital field. You and the 

 committee are to be complimented. 



After careful study of the bill I have several suggestions : 



(1) Estuarine and inshore oceanographic studies should be specifically em- 

 phasized more. Though an understanding of the offshore ocean areas and depths 

 is vital, the continental shelf and its overlying waters and the basy and tidal 

 rivers are biologically more important (if such a comparison can be made) and 

 a significant portion of the funds in the proposed expanded program should be 

 expended on understanding this area of the hydrosphere. 



(2) The proposed ships should be so designed, constructed and operated that 

 biological oceanography is fully provided for. These ships should be so con- 

 structed as to permit maximum possible observational use at each station and 

 completion of the work at sea. I was favorably impressed with the Russian 

 vessel Lomonosov in this regard. In other words, all disciplines should be served 

 at sea at once, where possible. 



(3) The shore facilities should also be adequately equipped and staffed for 

 biological oceanography both in estuarine and inshore work and offshore ocean- 

 ographic problems. 



(4) By its very nature, involving the phenomena of physics and chemistry as 

 well as added complicating phenomena of the biological realm— the life proc- 

 esses, biological research is usually much more complex and diflScult than that 

 of other disciplines ; therefore, a large proportion of the program should be de- 

 voted to biological oceanography. 



(5) The amount allotted to the National Science Foundation for basic re- 

 search in oceanography is far too small. It should be at least $10 million a year 

 or $100 million for the 10-year program. If past performance is any criterion 

 this basic research will, in the long run, be the most productive portion of the 

 program. It should be supported accordingly. (In the past amounts appro- 



