356 



earlier emphasis on marine biology rather than on physical, chemical, 

 or geological oceanography. 



These latter fields were receiving most of their support in 1951 from 

 the Navy Department, especially from the Office of Naval Research. 

 Fiscal year 1960 was the year when NSF first emerged as a major 

 factor in the Nation's ocea.nographic programs. 



In January 1959, we sent a fiscal year 1960 budget request to the 

 Congress in which we said : 



"One of the most rapidly advancing fields of modern research is 

 oceanography. Most of the support in this field has come in the past 

 from the Navy with additional support in the past 2 years from the 

 International Geophysical Year program. It has become clear that 

 a major effort of the National Science Foundation in this field is 

 essential." 



Mr. LENTsroisr. Doctor, might I interrupt you. I notice that you have 

 deleted from your prepared statement certain phraseology and charges 

 and indications made on page 3. Do you intend to put all of your state- 

 ment as furnished the committee in the record, or just that part that 

 you are reading? 



Dr. Robertson. I am sorry. I should have explained that. I am mak- 

 ing a few deletions in the interest of time, and I would like that part 

 of the paragraph included in the record. 



Mr. Lennon. In other words, there is one sentence here that I didn't 

 know whether you wanted to be questioned about, and that was in the 

 part that was deleted. 



Dr. Robertson. I will be glad to go back and read it. 



Mr. Lennon. We will take the liberty to ask you about anything 

 that, we received in your prepared statement. Thank you. Go ahead. 



Dr. Robertson, I wish to include the entire statement. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you, Doctor. 



Dr. Robertson (reading). "Increased funds available to the Navy 

 are being used in many cases for applied work, thus upsetting the 

 balance between basic and applied research in the field. This can only 

 be rectified by the development of a strong National Science Founda- 

 tion program. Furthermore, the IGY programs have opened up new 

 possibilities for cooperative international programs which will need 

 major support." 



In the same document, we also point out : 



Biological oceanography in the United States has lagged seriously behind 

 that of other countries. One predominant reason is that adequate ocean-going 

 research vessels have not been generally available. The least that should be done 

 is to increase the number by two or three per year for the next three or four 

 years. 



Elsewhere, we included a line item of $2 million for a new general- 

 purpose oceanographic research vessel. This money, augmented by re- 

 programed funds, grew into the Atlantis II, which is now the pride 

 of the fleet at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. In justify- 

 ing this vessel, we said : 



One of the most underdeveloped fields of science today is oceanography, yet 

 this field is potentially one of the most fruitful for both scientific and practical 

 objectives. The oceans are today one of the most significant areas of imused 



