NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 105 
There have been, and are now, some projects going on to upgrade the 
instrumentation available to merchant ships. 
One of the problems in obtaining data from ships of opportunity 
is the quality of the data, and there is a rather serious problem in the 
National Oceanographic Data Center at the present time with large 
volumes of substandard data that must be evaluated before it can 
be used. 
So I am aware, and this was discussed in some detail in the Eastern 
Pacific Oceanographic Conference, of an effort to upgrade the instru- 
mentation for such things as surface temperatures and salinities as 
obtainable from ships of opportunity. 
We also realize, and have not pursued this further in the panel, 
that the Navy has this extensive program of obtaining data from 
ships of opportunity. Our feeling has been this was being explored. 
Mr. Bauer. Who is going to make the charts of the oceans of the 
world, the Coast Survey or the Navy ? 
Commander Nyeren. The Navy has the responsibility within the 
U.S. Government of publishing the navigation charts of the waters 
exclusive of the territorial waters of the United States, and certain 
other areas. The data obtained from any source is turned over to the 
Navy and they publish these charts. 
‘Mr. Bauer. The Coast Survey’s charter was changed by this com- 
mittee some years ago, as I remember, to allow them to go anywhere 
in the world? 
Commander Nycren. We do so, and our data is transmitted to the 
Navy in the areas where it is their responsibility for publication. 
I may also remind you we publish data furnished to us by the Navy 
in the form of world magnetic charts. This is a longstanding inte- 
grated operation between the Coast Survey and the Navy. 
Mr. Bauer. That is with respect to the publication. I am trying 
to find out how we are going to get at an ocean survey of the oceans 
of the world as far as our country is concerned. I do not see from the 
testimony this morning, Mr. Chairman, that we are making very much 
progress in using ships of opportunity. 
Would Captain Treadwell be able to talk to ships of opportunity 
better than you perhaps? 
eee Nyeren. He certainly should be able to discuss it better 
than I. 
Mr. Bauer. How about the Continental Shelf? That has always 
been the Coast Survey’s medium, shall we say ? 
~ Commander Nyeren. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Bavurr. Are we using the data from the oil industry and the 
geophysical industry ? 
~~ Commander Nycren. We are examining the data at the present time 
so as to ascertain what is available, what its quailty is. Part of the 
problem, Mr. Bauer, is, there is no mechanism for publishing much 
of this data at the present time, and this is an admitted weakness in 
the oceanographic program. The problem of processing and publish- 
ing data’ from the surveys, or from the research efforts, is an area that 
requires more study. ~ 
Mr. Bavrr. In other words, the program should be funded for more 
production; isthat your theory?» magi - 
; eee Nyeren. This is one of the areas where we need stim- 
ulation. 
