128 



Admiral Smith. Where was the "user oriented"? I just want to 

 check the context. 



Mr. Hanna. Near the end of your statement, on the next to last 

 page or the last page. 



Mr. Drewey. Page 8. 



Mr. Lennon. It IS on the second line of paragraph 4 on page 8. 



Mr. Hanna. We are "user oriented," you say. 



Admiral Smith. Wliat I mean, Mr. Hanna, is that, while the Coast 

 Guard is heavily involved in the marine sciences field, the information 

 we collect is largely used by agencies other than ourselves. As I have 

 stated, under the requirements of 14 U.S.C. 94, we have an important 

 responsibility for oceanographic research. We accomplish this, not 

 only directly through our oceanographic vessel activities but also in 

 connection with our other operations, such as our ocean station pro- 

 gram, polar icebreaking, our offshore stations, our coastal stations, 

 and special aircraft flights. We do use oceanographic data for iceberg 

 prediction and for search and rescue drift prediction ; additionally, a 

 significant amount of data is furnished the National Oceanographic 

 Data Center for use by the Navy, ESSA, Bureau of Commercial 

 Fisheries, and other scientific programs. 



When I speak of the "cost effectiveness" and the "systems approach," 

 what I am saying is that I think the ocean station vessel program is 

 perhaps the best example of this. 



We have these vessels proceeding to and from stations, and on sta- 

 tions for reasons outside the marine sciences and oceanography field 

 as such. 



The fact that they can, in addition to performing their duties as 

 ocean station vessels, accumulate this information, we feel is cost effec- 

 tive from the standpoint that if this data is important and necessary, 

 that if we weren't able to do it with these ships, somebody else would 

 have to provide another ship to do this type of work. 



Mr. Hanna. In other words, what you are saying is that you have a 

 multipurpose use that is available far beyond the scope of the limited 

 mission ? 



Admiral Smith. Yes, sir, that is correct. 



Mr. Hanna. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon. The gentleman from Alabama. 



Mr. Edwards. Admiral, I want to echo what the others say about 

 the Coast Guard. 



I think that this whole committee feels very strongly that the Coast 

 Guard is serving a great purpose and handles itself with great 

 distinction. 



I am interested in your comments on what you might call a "by- 

 product" of your normal duties. 



You mention, on page 5 of your statement, just what you were talk- 

 ing about, that in conjunction with your other duties you carry out 

 oceanographic programs for other institutions. 



Who determines which projects you will carry out in addition to your 

 normal duties ? 



Admiral Smith. The requirements for oceanographic data are gen- 

 erated, of course, by a number of different Federal agencies and, also, 

 scientiiic institutionR. 



Up until very recently, the final approval and coordination of pro- 

 grams were handled by the Interagency Committee on Oceanography. 



