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seums and also assist public and private scientific organizations and scientists 

 of many nationalities with their research. 



Identification of organisms is a most time-consuming chore. Marine organisms 

 are so poorly known that a sizable percentage of the samples obtained contain 

 undescribed or poorly known species. Smithsonian scientists provide assurance 

 that these organisms are appropriately described for future reference. With 

 this in mind we receive and process collections deposited by all Federal agencies 

 engaged in marine research and development activities. 



For example, through the Smithsonian Institution's Oceanographic Sorting 

 Center abundances of fish larvae and eggs are reported to the Bureau of Com- 

 mercial Fisheries. The Atomic Energy Commission and the Oflace of Naval Re- 

 search receive reports from the investigations conducted at Bikini Atoll in 1946 

 to serve in establishing a baseline of marine biological activity prior to the 

 nuclear tests. The National Institutes of Health has requested that we look for 

 neoplasms in invertebrates and cold-blooded vertebrates as a part of the NIH 

 campaign to study the eteology of neoplasms. For the Naval Oceanographic 

 Office we have arranged for identification of special collections taken from the 

 sound-scattering layer in the ocean. For the U.S. Antarctic Research Program 

 of the National Science Foundation we arrange for specialists to identify and 

 publish on certain groups of marine specimens. We identify special groups for 

 the Environmental Science Services Administration, the Coast Guard and the 

 Department of State. 



In order to solve problems of identification, Smithsonian scientists borrow 

 specimens from other museums whenever necessary. Rare and unique specimens 

 not available on loan must be studied at their location in museums, and travel 

 to such museums is required for our scientists. In cases where available speci- 

 mens are too few to permit adequate study, Smithsonian scientists go to the field 

 and attempt to collect additional specimens. 



For example, on one trip to Madagascar a scientist found 15 new species of 

 starfishes and 45 new species of copepod parasites in less than a week during 

 collection of this one host-parasite group. Because adequate field observations 

 and proper preservation in the field are of critical importance, our scientists fre- 

 quently participate in oceanographic expeditions. Ships of many nations and of 

 various U.S. agencies invite our scientists to join their cruises. 



Thus, 14 scientists from the Smithsonian participated in the International 

 Indian Ocean Expedition, two scientists in the International Cooperative Investi- 

 gations of the Tropical Atlantic, two in the Guinean Trawling Survey, and more 

 than 20 in the U.S. Antarctic expeditions. Our research results aid in the evalua- 

 tion of biological resources, and productivity, the assessment of pollution dam- 

 age, studies of drugs and chemicals of a biological origin, identification of water 

 masses, as well as in the predictions of marine biological deterioration, biolumi- 

 nescence, and in the assessment of hazards from predatory animals such as 

 sharks. Smithsonian geologists recently have collected marine sediments off 

 Argentina, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Eastern United States. They have 

 studied the marine rocks of the mid-Atlantic Ridge in cooperation with the 

 •Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Scripps Institution of Oceanog- 

 raphy. They are curating and studying the test cores obtained during the now 

 defunct Project Mohole. 



Smithsonian scientists are encouraged to cooperate with universities so that 

 they can direct graduate students in fields of their competence. About 16 univer- 

 sities, including George Washington University, the University of Maryland, 

 Johns -Hopkins University, the University of Kansas, have entered into coopera- 

 tive agreements with the Smithsonian to facilitate research and education. 



The Smithsonian Institution operates an oceanographic research ship called 

 PHYKOS. PHYKOS is a vessel of 650 tons, full load displacement. Well suited 

 for coastal work, she was used in fiscal year 1966 for research on coralline algae 

 from Newfoundland to the Florida coast. She also served as a support vessel for 

 familiarization dives of two underseas vehicles, ASHERAH and Cubmarine 

 (PC-4). 



More recently, an agreement was reached whereby PHYKOS will be used joint- 

 ly with the Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute in Portland, Maine. 

 Under the initial one year agreement PHYKOS will be used during the fall and 

 spring school terms for student training. PHYKOS will continue to be available 

 for our own -research during the other seven months of the year. The school will 

 provide full support for local research cruises and will assist the Smithsonian in 

 , crewing the vessel during our field expeditions. 



