72 



In conclusion, may I make one other very personal comment. 



The problem we are facing is baffling and elusive because of its 

 varied and diverse nature, because of its special background and his- 

 tory, as well as its potential and our own future needs. To mobilize our 

 marine forces and resources is, as I have said, quite a different prob- 

 lem from other technical hurdles that we have faced. The issues here, 

 speaking now from an organizational point of view, or what I would 

 jDrefer to call a mobilization point of view, have a significance that 

 goes beyond the oceans themselves, beyond the particular subject of 

 marine science and resources. It seems to me that we are dealing with 

 the fundamental character of contemporary society. In the past, more 

 often than not, it was possible to divide interests and activities neatly 

 into departments and agencies, whether in the public or private sector, 

 but the great new problems of our time are not easily divisible. They 

 overlap and fuse at the boundaries. 



One may see this very clearly in our larger academic institutions. 

 One can no longer confine the interests of the traditional disciplines in 

 isolated departments. 



To take an example, one of the most important fields to emerge in 

 recent years is that of materials. It touches upon almost every aspect 

 of science and engineering. 



Or again, take the problem of the cities, one of the most desperate 

 and important that faces us today. Whether approached from the 

 academic, legislative, or administrative point of view, it brings to- 

 gether elements of science, economics, architecture, regional planning, 

 and a whole variety of others. However you deal with this problem 

 of the cities, it simply cannot be put into one compartment or another. 

 So learning how to manage this kind of problem and give direction 

 to its solution, is, I think, one of the major issues of the present and 

 the future. 



I Avill not pretend that I believe there is complete transferability 

 from the solution of one such massive complex to another, but I would 

 like to believe that if we attack successfully this great problem of the 

 marine sciences, some of the views, some of the conclusions, some of 

 the things we have learned may have a bearing beyond the confines 

 of the sea. 



Mr. Chairman, I thank you very much. I am at your disposal to 

 answer whatever questions I can. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you very much, Dr. Stratton, for a very fine 

 statement. From my association with the Commission, simply in a 

 legislative advisory capacity representing the Congress, I know of 

 your experience and your concern and your dedication to the position 

 you have accepted and at which you are so admirably proceeding. 



Dr. Geyer is the Vice Chairman of the Commission. I wonder if 

 there is anything that you would like to add to what Dr. Stratton 

 has said before the members are recognized for questions. 



Dr. Geyer. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity. 



I would like to say I concur wholeheartedly in the statements of 

 philosophy made in Dr. Stratton's prepared and oral statements. I 

 might take this opportunity, however, for just a moment, perhaps to 

 underscore one phase of the statements that were made in the report 

 this morning, namely, the educational aspects. 



Time is of the essence in the training of an oceanographer, and it 

 cannot be interrupted for one reason or another if we are to accom- 



