129 



This is now handled in the National Council, which reviews these 

 programs and decides which ones should be accomplished. 



Then the agency, if it has the capability and equipment, is assigned 

 to carry out this mission. 



Mr. Edwards. So that assuming an academic institution working 

 on a research project thinks the Coast Guard could be of assistance, 

 they would go to the National Council and present their program. 

 And the National Council would, in turn, say to the Coast Guard : "We 

 think this is a legitimate project you can carry out." Is that true ? 



Admiral Smith. Yes; this is true of larger projects. For smaller 

 projects that are of a localized nature, we may respond without clear- 

 ing all the way through the Council. 



Mr. Edwards. I guess I am getting at this : Does the Coast Guard, 

 in effect, have the authority to say to one of these agencies : "We are 

 just not going to do it, or can't do it?" Or does someone outside the 

 Coast Guard direct you to do it ? 



Perhaps it is not that harsh, but I would like your answer on it. 



Admiral Smith. No, sir, it is not that harsh. Whether we can 

 accomplish these things partly depends on the capability of our equip- 

 ment. Do we have equipment that can do the type of project? And 

 then are the facilities available to engage in the project ? 



So it does not necessarily involve a directive or a hard order. These 

 are in line with the search for facilities that are available to perform 

 these functions, and whatever agency can contribute is the one that 

 will go ahead with the program. 



Mr. Edwards. We are going back, then, generally to the very good 

 cooperation between the agencies in working with each other in an 

 effort to solve all the oceanographic problems. 



Admiral Smith. Yes, sir, I would say this is the basis of it. Much 

 of it is a cooperative program under present conditions. 



Mr. Edwards, Do you look to the Council as the lead agency, more 

 or less, in spearheading this program ? 



Admiral Smith. Since the Council has been in existence, we look to 

 the Council for the leadership in establishing the national goals and 

 objectives. And I think this is exactly the way they are going. 



We have been working with them with respect to their various 

 committee structures, with respect to furnishing them with a great 

 variety of information which we are able to produce. 



We have been working very closely with the Council staff with 

 respect to their whole program. 



Mr. Edwards. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon. The gentleman from Delaware. 



Mr. Roth. There has been considerable discussion in the past about 

 the need of technicians to fulfill the oceanography missions of the 

 future. I was especially interested in your statement about your course 

 at Governors Island, N. Y. 



I wonder if you could amplify your remarks, giving us some idea as 

 to the length and nature of the program, what background students at 

 this school are required to have. 



Admiral Smith. I might say that that course we have established is 

 essentially to qualify our own personnel for specific tasks. 



I would like to ask Captain Branson, who is our oceanographer, to 

 ^ive you details on the course, its length, scope, and so forth. 



Captain Branson. The course is an 8 -week course, sir. The level of 



