84 NATIONAL OCHANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 
material, or to dilute it. In Lake Erie, where there is continual addi- 
tion of organic material, perhaps not dangerous, but as pollutants, 
there is not an awful lot that can be done. 
Mr. Mosuer. I suppose the control of pollution would ultimately 
rejuvenate the lake? 
Dr. WatiEen. Yes; that is correct. 
Mr. Mosuer. That would be the best way to attack that problem? 
Dr. Warten. A reduction in pollution will certainly reduce the loss 
of oxygen or will increase the amount of oxygen production. There 
is a complicating factor, and that is, having reached a level of pollution 
where there is very substantial organic matter present, the organic 
matter is used for further production of organisms which themselves 
die and add to the oganic material, and you have a cycle that lasts for 
a long period of time so the results are not immediately felt. Cer- 
tainly it is true in the long run. 
Mr. Lennon. How long have you served as Chairman of the Re- 
search Panel? 
Dr. Watuen. For 2 years. 
Mr. Lennon. Subpanels are organized within your panels to make 
special studies of special objectives or projects? 
Dr. Watien. Yes. 
Mr. Lennon. And when that function is finished, then that panel 
phases out and it is directed to some other specialty in the research 
program ? 
Dr. Watten. That is correct. 
Mr. Lennon. That is the practice of the other panel chairman in 
ICO, is it not ? 
Dr. Watiten. Yes. 
Mr. Lennon. They establish subpanels to make special studies to 
report back to the panel who in turn reports back to the ICO? 
Dr. WatuENn. Yes. 
Generally, when a problem arises, it may arise within the panel, or in 
the ICO, or even in the Federal Council. If a problem is referred 
from the Federal Council to the ICO, it may be referred to the Re- 
search Panel which may then establish a special subpanel to meet the 
problem. 
Mr. Lennon. During this 2-year period there have been, necessarily, 
reasonably substantial changes in the personnel of your Panel? 
Dr. Wattzen. That is correct. 
Go: Lennon. That would be true of the other several panels of the 
ICO. 
Tell me quite frankly, Doctor, during this 2 years that you have 
been Chairman of this particular Panel, do you believe there has been 
a greater degree of coordination in this field of oceanography, prog- 
essively a better degree of coordination than in the last few years? 
Dr. Watten. Yes, sir; I certainly do. 
As an example, it seems to me that even the Panel itself does not 
have to meet so often nowadays, that’ we more or less automatically 
pick up the phone and ask those people who are involved whether 
they have programs in the area in which we propose to work. It is 
not necessary to wait until the problems arise in order to solve the 
problems. 
