MARINE SCIENCE 159 



Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 



Mount Vernon, N.Y., March 28, 1960. 

 Re S. 2692. 



Senator Warren G. Magnuson, 



Cliairinan, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Conumerce, 

 U.l^. Senate, Washington, D.C. 



My Dear Senator Magnuson : Although no formal action on your bill 8. 2692 

 has yet been taken by this commission, I believe it is proper for me to say that 

 it has aroused much interest both among the members of the commission and 

 more particularly their scientific advisers. Because of the commission's long- 

 time interest and support of biological and oceanographic research, I assume 

 that the commission would favor in principle the objectives of your bill, although 

 there might be some diversity of opinion as to certain details. 



For example, one member of our biological committee. Dr. William J. Hargis, 

 director of the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, had sent me a copy of his letter 

 of October 8, 1959, to you complimenting you and your committee and offering 

 some specific suggestions as to facilities and equipment and for increasing the 

 appropriations for certain items. We have also had some correspondence from 

 other members of the same biological committee expressing general approval in 

 the whole but asking for interpretation of some clauses. 



It is for these reasons that I think it proper to say that this commission and 

 its advisers are genuinely interested in S. 2692 and hope that copies of any 

 amendments that may be suggested will be sent to us prior to our annual meet- 

 ing in September so that if formal action by the commission seems desirable 

 at that time, it can be taken. 



Speaking as an individual, I believe S. 2692 is a farsighted measure which 

 recognizes the great need for increasing our oceanographic research in a wide 

 cooperative program. It seems to me that the import-ant thing is to agree on 

 the objectives and get the big program started. Later, if experience indicates 

 need for modifications of procedures, that can be done by amending the act. 

 With appreciation of your kindness in supplying material to us from time to 

 time, I am, 



Sincerely yours, 



Wayne D. Heydeckee, Secretary-Treasurer. 



(The comments from the Government agencies follow:) 



Executive Office of the President, 



Bureau of the Budget, 

 Washington, D.C, April IS, 1960. 

 Hon. Warren G. Magnuson, 



Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 

 Washington, D.C. 



My Dear Mr. Chairman : This is in response to an informal request by com- 

 mittee staff for the views on S. 2692, a bill to advance the marine sciences, to 

 establish a comprehensive 10-year program of oceanographic research and sur- 

 veys ; 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 ma- 

 terials in marine environment ; to enhance the general welfare ; and for other 

 purposes. 



\^Tiile recognizing the merit of strengthening the marine sciences, the Bureau 

 has serious reservations about the necessity and advisability of enacting S. 2692. 



As far as we can determine, the various agencies engaged in or supporting 

 research in the marine sciences already have adequate legislative authority to 

 continue or expand their work in this field. Accordingly, we believe that the 

 enactment of S. 2692 to be unnecessary. 



We are further concerned over the general approach which the bill takes in 

 authorizing specific sums of money for various activities and programs of the 

 Federal agencies engaged in the marine sciences. No field of science remains 

 static. In this day and age there is a constant need for review of scientific 

 requirements and redirection of research programs. It does not seem advisable, 

 therefore, to earmark dollar amounts for specific agency activities or to delineate 

 the composition of scientific activities in detail as S. 2692 undertakes to do. 



We recognize the interest of the committee in seeking to strengthen the marine 

 sciences. However, such strengthening not only can take place under existing 



