150 MARINE SCIENCE 



because my special field of science is encouraged but also because the general 

 welfare of the people in the United States and in the whole world will be 

 enhanced. 



It is out of my capacity to make comments on the bill, since I have only a 

 limited experience. However, I was engaged in research of oceanography as a 

 staff scientist of Japan Meteorological Agency for 12 years. Fortunately I 

 could spend almost 3 years in research and teaching of oceanography in this 

 country, including 1% years at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. There- 

 fore I have a chance to compare the general oceanographic activities in the 

 United States and in Japan. Also I feel it is one of my duties to impart my 

 opinions about improving the marine sciences to the authorities of this country 

 which has bestowed so much benefit upon me. 



The following comments on the bill might be mediocre or superfluous like 

 "feet of a snake," as an Oriental proverb says. However, I will be very happy 

 if any of these comments be worthwhile. 



1. INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEES OR COUNCILS ON THE OPERATION OP 

 OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH SHIPS 



According to the bill about 80 oceanographic research ships will be operated 

 at the end of the 10-year plan. This situation needs an enormous coordination 

 among various agencies which operate the ships in order to avoid unnecessary 

 duplication in surveys and to insure cooperation in problems which need more 

 than a few ships. It seems to me that such committees (or less formal organi- 

 zations) are urgently necessary even now, because there are rather poor co- 

 operations among different agencies and institutions. For instance, the Gulf 

 of Mexico, on which I am now studying, was surveyed frequently by govern- 

 mental agencies and some universities. But I think that the coordination of 

 these surveys is poor, although individual works are excellent. Further, al- 

 most no information is available in advance about the future plans of surveys 

 for scientists or oceanographers outside the particular institutions which are 

 planning such surveys. 



Therefore the functions of proposed committees may be to give informations 

 about the results obtained in the past surveys as soon as possible, at least to 

 scientific circles who are interested in them, to discuss and modify future plans 

 of surveys, to widely ask advices or comments from the scientific circles and, to 

 exchange general informations about operation of the research ships. Several 

 committees of such kind may be established on the regional basis for operating 

 area of the research ships, presumably, the North Atlantic region, the North 

 Pacific region, the Gulf of Mexico region, and other parts of the ocean not di- 

 rectly related to this country soich as the Antarctic, the South Pacific and 

 Atlantic, and the Indian Oceans. Each regional committee has to hold a meet- 

 ing consisting of representatives of individual agencies and institutions and of 

 scientists who are interested in the area, at least twice a year. 



2. TRAINING OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THE MARINE SCIENCES 



The marine sciences include almost all phases of basic sciences as well as 

 applied sciences such as engineering and fishery technology. Therefore the 

 subjects are quite educational even to the students who have no intention to 

 become a specialist in the field, when they are adequately taught. The important 

 thing is to rouse the interest of students in the marine sciences. For this 

 purpose several measures are considered: (1) to have good elementary books 

 and textbooks of marine sciences to attract students; (2) to make films and 

 invent educational equipments illustrating many phases of marine sciences and 

 facilities of teaching; (3) to set up courses of marine sciences in colleges as a 

 general science curriculum; (4) to train students on the spot in shore facilities 

 and on board the research ships. This measure may be much promoted if the 

 plans of surveys are known in advance and cooperations between the agencies 

 operating ships and the institutions doing basic researches and education are 

 realized through the committees mentioned in paragraph No. 1. Such trainings 

 do not only benefit students but also give some remedy for solving shortages of 

 manpower in the technical assistant level. 



Further, setup of cultural centers or museums relating to the marine sciences 

 at many communities may also help for arousing public interests in marine 

 sciences. 



