NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 119 
from the Department of Interior all are now being accommodated on the 
U.S.C. &G.S. ship Pioneer which is conducting a multiphase oceanographie 
survey in support of the International Indian Ocean Expedition. These two 
cruises just cited illustrate the genuine working communications between agency 
scientists and the outside scientific community. Through the interchange of 
agency plans by members of the Surveys Panel, very substantial economies are 
effected by sharing survey ship capabilities, as well as technological advances. 
These comments apply to survey vessels of the U.S. Navy, and ships of other 
ICO members also. I believe a brief enumeration of several tasks recently un- 
dertaken by the Panel might be an effective way of presenting another aspect 
of its work: 
An independent evaluation of the NASCO-recommended ocean survey pro- 
gram, considering ship facilities, instrumentation, sampling density, reporting, 
etc., was deemed highly desirable in view of the magnitude of the proposed 
program. Modern statistical methods and operations research procedures for 
calculating the optimum density of sampling, ship speed, personnel staffing, 
ete., have been called upon. Although funded by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, 
the specifications for the study were prepared by the Panel, and the qualifica- 
tions of the prospective operations analysts were formally graded by the Panel. 
The choice of contractor was made from the group selected by the Panel. The 
18-month study now about half completed, has been based on data solicited and 
received from not only Federal agencies engaged in this work, but from a broad 
spectrum of scientists and administrators in the oceanographic committee at 
large. Copies of the reports to date, have been brought from the Panel’s files. 
These summary statements distill the contents of detailed reports on instru- 
mentation, survey ship design, and buoy networks. The Panel has continued 
to work closely with the contractor, and has received periodic progress reports 
from him. ‘ 
The Ocean Surveys Advisory Panel has also been concentrating on other 
problems. One was the compilation of the agencies’ plans for 1966 under the 
heading of “Ocean Surveys.” Program statements have been received from 
all member agencies and will shortly be reproduced and distributed within the 
Panel following which a meeting will be held to discuss coordination of these 
operations. The various bureaus have been examining their own internal re- 
quirements in order to properly fit them into the ICO budgetary categories. Some 
agencies, having no money allocated to surveys, have in the past, been doing 
survey type work under the heading of research. A better definition of the ob- 
jectives of the work has caused some revision in the reporting of funds to ICO 
for fiscal year 1966. After the meeting of the Panel, the smooth version of this 
part of the national ocean survey program for fiscal year 1966 will be prepared 
for ICO. This will then become part of national oceanographic program pam- 
phliet for 1966. 
The Panel recently considered a very carefully developed proposal for a study 
of the region which supports the extensive tuna fishery of the central Pacific. 
‘This plan, recognizing the role of physical oceanography in the sponsor’s mission, 
requires facilities in excess of the BCF’s in-house capability. Accordingly, the 
Panel has brought to all interested Federal agencies the sponsor’s proposal. 
Those aspects of the program that can be aided by cooperation of the other 
agencies are currently being studied. 
I have attempted to present a concise picture of what the Ocean Surveys Advi- 
‘sory Panel does through the use of a few specific examples. As you can well 
imagine, perhaps its most effective work is the day in, day out informal communi- 
ation that exists between the Panel members, and the members of the other 
Panels with closely related functions; for example, the Research and Ships 
Panels. Indeed it is extremely difficult and not particularly desirable to segre- 
gate the functions of these three Panels. Fortunately, communications are good. 
Panel members are, in the main, scientists or engineers and administrators who 
have long been identified as experts in their respective fields. I believe the mu- 
tual respect and rapport that has prevailed has resulted in an effective method 
for managing the Federal oceanographic program. 
Thank you for your interest. I would be pleased to attempt to answer ques- 
tions you may care to ask. 
