86 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 
Dr. Wa.ien. The answer is “No.” Rather extensive studies by 
scientists at the General Electric Laboratories at Hanford, Wash., 
at the University of Washington Laboratory of Radiation Biology, 
and at the Oregon State University have been made on samples of 
many kinds of organisms from the ocean mouth beiow Portland and 
extending for several hundred miles at sea. Traces of zinc 65, chro- 
mium 51, and occasionally other isotopes that are believed to have 
originated in the Columbia River have been found in some organisins. 
The quantities of radioisotopes in marine animals are so low as to be 
barely detectable. Our existing knowledge of radioactivity and its 
effects indicates that there must have been no deleterious etfect. 
Mr. Bauer. My next question is this: Is the Bureau of Commercial 
Fisheries investigating radiobiological effects on fisheries ? 
Dr. Wauien. Yes. The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries has 
worked rather closely with the Atomic Energy Commission for the 
past several years to study the potential effect of radionuclides on 
commercial fisheries in the sea. in cooperation with the AKC, the 
Bureau began work in 1950 at its Biological Laboratory in Beaufort, 
N.C., to investigate the relationship between radioactivity and fish- 
eries. The Beaufort Laboratory has generally been supported ap- 
proximately 50-50 by the Atomic Knergy Commission and the Bureau 
of Commercial Fisheries. The program has expanded over the years 
and, in March 1963, it was raised to the status of an independent 
radiobiological laboratory, which is directed by Dr. Ted Rice.. The 
personnel of the Laboratory have been cleared for atomic energy 
information and thus are permitted to carry on experiments that 
simulate the actual releases of atomic energy materials from projects 
visualized by the Atomic Energy Commission. The Laboratory has 
studied the extent of occurrence of radionuclides in the environment 
as a result of atomic or other contamination of the ocean. They have 
studied accumulation rates by marine organisms for various radio- 
nuclides, the extent of retention of various radioisotopes, and the level 
at which these radioisotopes seem to produce an effect. With the 
chairman’s permission, I should like to enter for the record the annual 
report of the Radiobiological Laboratory from the Department of the 
Interior to the Atomic Energy Commission. This document is dated 
April 1, 1964, and reviews the scientific accomplishments of the Lab- 
oratory during the preceding 12 months. 
Mr. Lennon. We will place this report in the subcommittee files. 
Captain Bauer, do you have further questions of Dr. Wallen? 
Mr. Bavsr. This concludes my questions, Mr. Chairman. 
Mr. Lennon. The subcommittee wishes to thank you, Doctor, for 
a very excellent and informative statement. 
(The prepared statement of Dr. Wallen and the material mentioned 
follow herewith :) : 
STATEMENT BY Dr. I. EH. WALLEN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR OCEANOGRAPHY, Mu- 
SEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, AND CHAIRMAN RE- 
SEARCH PANEL, INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, on behalf of the members of the 
Research Panel of the Interagency Committee on Oceanography, I am pleased at 
this opportunity to report on research achievements in oceanography during the 
last 2 years. 
Since the hearing of February and March 1962, there has been some turnover 
in membership of the Research Panel. Additional members were added in order 
