198 



I would like to comment, too, on a news release by the Secretary of 

 the Interior of May 14, yesterday. I am only going to quote one para- 

 graph. I quote : 



I believe the Tektite Program proves that there is determination and imagina- 

 tion and new ideas if we can pull away the curtain that has prevented man from 

 learning about the tremendous resources that lie beneath the surface of our 

 oceans. 



To begin this hearing, I would like to recognize the Hon. Eussell E. 

 Train, Under Secretary of the Department of the Interior, who will 

 introduce the coordinator of today's program, and those participating 

 in it at this time and, since he is here ready to make that presentation, 

 sir, you may proceed, Mr. Secretary. 



We are delighted to have you here and also to have so many other 

 distinguished guests. 



STATEMENT OF HON. RUSSELL E. TEAIN, UNDEE SECEETARY OF 



THE INTERIOR 



Mr. Train. Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and Mr. Pelly, and 

 other members. 



Would you like me to proceed with a statement at this time or intro- 

 duce Admiral Waters? 



Mr. Lennon. Perhaps you could give us your statement, if you will, 

 and I have the names of the other gentlemen who I assum3 will present 

 their respective views. 



Mr. Train. All right, sir. 



Mr. Chairman and members of the committee : We are pleased to 

 have the opportunity to appear before you today to describe what is 

 certainly one of the most exciting recent events to take place in the 

 ocean — Operation Tektite. 



Interior is proud to have been a partner in this very successful un- 

 dertaking, and we are proud, too, of our four aquanauts who per- 

 formed so magnificently. As you have been informed, three of the 

 aquanauts, Richard Waller, Conrad Mahnken, and John Van Der- 

 walker, are with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries ; the fourth. Dr. 

 Edward Clifton, is with the Geological Survey. These four scien- 

 tists, with their different interests in biological and geological ocean- 

 ography, made a well-balanced team. 



I would also like to mention the backup or standby aquanauts who 

 were always ready to step in — or perhaps we should say dive in — if 

 one of the principal aquanauts got into trouble. These were: Gary 

 Davis, of the National Park Service ; Larry Phillips, of the Geologi- 

 cal Survey ; and Ian Koblick, of the College of the Virgin Islands. A 

 team of JSTavy divers also was on hand, and we were grateful for their 

 presence. 



The contributions of the National Park Service, which provided the 

 site in the Virgin Islands National Park and numerous other services 

 and courtesies, should not be overlooked. We would also like to extend 

 our thanks to the College of the Virgin Islands who gave superlative 

 support in addition to supplying one of the backup aquanauts. 



Each of the participating organizations had its own objectives and 

 reasons for taking part in Tektite. Interior, as you know, has very 

 broad interests in the ocean and its resources, including its purely 

 physical processes, its geological structure and mineral content, its 



