NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 
area, the Argentine Basin, the Labrador Sea, the 
Atlantic and Pacific Equatorial undercurrents, 
the Mediterranean circulation, the Oyashio cur- 
rent, and many other open ocean and coastal 
features. These studies embrace the physical, 
chemical, and biological characteristics of these 
water masses in addition to bottom topography 
and geology. 
New fishery resources have been identified 
in several areas. Commercial quantities of fish 
and shellfish have been found to occur at depths 
of at least 600 fathoms off the Columbia River. 
This is about three times the depth at which 
present commercial operations are carried out. 
Immense scallop beds discovered off the East 
Coast of Florida are considered to have great 
commercial potential. Exploitation of new fish- 
eries off the Alaskan Coast was begun during the 
year. 
The application of blood typing to fisheries 
research revealed important information about 
the stocks from which certain Pacific fishes are 
derived. Studies showed that stocks of Northern 
Pacific albacore are genetically isolated from 
those of the Southern Hemisphere. Sardines in 
the Gulf of Baja California were found to be ge- 
netically distinct from those off the Coast of 
Southern California. During the next few years 
blood typing may pave the way for significant 
advancement of our knowledge of fish deriva- 
tions and behavior. 
Experiments conducted with skipjack tuna 
in experimental ponds showed that they recog- 
nize and respond to underwater sound. A speci- 
fic olfactory response was also demonstrated in 
tuna. 
Instrumentation 
One of the highlights of 1963 was the open- 
ing of the Naval Oceanographic Office's new In- 
strumentation Test and Calibration Center at the 
Navy Yard Annex in Washington. The latest 
electronic and mechanical equipment has been 
assembled in excellent laboratory accommoda- 
tions which, when fully staffed and equipped, will 
provide the finest developmental, testing, evalu- 
ation, and standardized calibration capabilities 
available. Extensive shop facilities for model 
building, modification, and repair have also been 
provided. 
The Oceanographic Office has staffed the 
center with experts in all fields of instrumenta- 
tion and plans to contribute to research and de- 
velopment of new instrumentation in addition to 
the center's other missions. The ICOis studying 
503 
the operation of the new Center as a model for 
the proposed National Instrumentation Test and 
Calibration Centers to be established on the 
East and West coasts of the United States. 
Contracts for the development of packaged 
oceanographic instrumentation systems have 
been awarded by the Naval Oceanographic Office 
in cooperation with other ICO agencies. These 
systems will provide automatic measurement 
and recording of a wide variety of oceanographic 
data in a single easily installed and serviced 
unit. Small systems for placement on merchant 
vessels and other ships of opportunity will be 
included in this program. 
The testing of buoy systems was continued 
by member agencies during calendar year 1962. 
Planning for an oceanographic satellite to moni- 
tor buoy stations and make direct oceanographic 
measurements was begun during the year. 
The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries has 
established an oceanographic instrumentation 
shop to conduct its new instrumentation program 
and to coordinate with the Oceanographic Office 
Instrumentation Center. A general purpose 
automatic fish counter is being completed and a 
contract has been given the University of Wash- 
ington for work on a semi-automatic fish scale 
reader. The perfected instruments will be 
directly applicable to projects under sponsor- 
ship of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries, Atomic 
Energy Commission, Office of Naval Research, 
and National Science Foundation. 
The Geological Survey developed a sediment 
fractionator providing continuous graphical data 
readout for direct computer analysis. The Sur- 
vey has also contracted for development of a 
transistorized probe for measuring pH, dissolved 
oxygen, temperature, turbidity, and other pa- 
rameters. The contractor has successfully 
completed initial testing and the final tests are 
underway. This development is being reviewed 
with interest by at least fifteen agencies as in- 
tegral to oceanographic field work of all kinds. 
Instruments on which development has been 
carried out during the year by the Coast and 
Geodetic Survey include: a hydrographic digital 
recording system, a narrow-beam stabilized 
transducer for deep ocean echo sounding, pre- 
cision navigation equipment, an oceanographic 
multisensor system, a deep sea underwater 
stabilized platform for magnetics, and improve- 
ments in the existing tsunami warning system. 
Successful accomplishment of development of 
any of these will materially reinforce programs 
underway in Defense, Interior, AEC, HEW, and 
NSF. 
