860 
Mr. Curnean. So when we talk about needing additional funds, the 
potential for high cost, must we not also consider the potential for 
national gain ? 
Dr. Wrnx. Well, in every case, I believe, that the payoff for in- 
vestments in marine sciences is sionificant, predictable and, in relation 
to a number of other areas in which we are funding today, subject to 
demonstrated superiority. But at the same time, Mr. Clingan, the prob- 
lem is that we just don’t have enough money to do all the things that 
are desirable and which also have this predictable payoff, and that 
is at least the short term constraint as we meet this inflation problem. 
SUPPORT FOR A NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AGENCY 
Mr. Crinean. I understand that. Thank you. 
Just to shift off the subject of funds very briefly, you have referred 
to Congress as a mirror of consensus. Also in your discussion you re- 
ferred to a certain amount of sympathy among the industry. I am sure 
that you have read all of the testimony before this subcommittee 
so far. 
Dr. Wenx. Yes. 
Mr. ‘Crinean. I am sure you are aware also that the former chair- 
man of the Council has gone strongly on record pesioy = the con- 
cept of NOAA. Are you not 2 
Dr. Wenx. Yes. 
Mr. Crinean. Are you aware of the poll of the National Oceanogra- 
phy Association with respect to NOAA? If I may, I will just refresh 
your memory on that questionnaire in mid-February representing 115 
NOA corporation members, and 148 individuals of the corporate 
members; 82 percent supported the proposal for NOAA and the in- 
dividuals backed it by 80 percent. 
In addition, I would like to mention that in the May—June issue of 
Oceanology mag azine, which reported the results of their poll of 602 
ocean scientists : to the question, do you agree that one strong organiza- 
tion can be more effective in attaining this goal than many small spe- 
cial interest groups, and 67 percent said “ves”; “no” 33 percent, 
Don’t you think that these things indicate the growing of the kind 
of consensus that you are talking about 2 
Dr. Wenx. I do indeed, Mr. ~Clingan, and I was aware of many of 
these statistics. Although T have not seen the latest poll taken by NOA, 
I think this is enormously valuable. This in essence reveals more 
dramatically than I could have, the meaning of my comment about 
the Congress being a mirror of consensus. 
I want to note ‘though that the executive branch is itself endeavor- 
ing to determine what the feeling is outside of the Federal Govern- 
ment with regard to this matter of national priorities and this involves 
not simply marine sciences but all of our concerns which require Fed- 
eral intervention, and I am sure that this will be taken into account. 
I understand your point with regard to the Ash committee, but 
I am obliged to note that that is the advisory group that has the 
responsibility for the President to determine whether or not you can 
meet these national priorities better by reorganizing either for the 
oceans or for whatever other proposals are deemed of high priority. 
