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activities and to the implementation of a national program. In my 

 opinion the ISTation's interests will be well served by the establishment 

 ofNOAA. 



I also endorse the Commission's recommendation for the establish- 

 ment of a National Advisory Committee for the Oceans as a useful 

 method of obtaining support and advice on the program as it develops. 

 This advisory committee is of vital importance in its own right and is 

 not a substitute for the agency or other key Commission recommenda- 

 tions. 



The Stratton Commission report may well be the most important 

 single document concerning the oceans in our lifetime. The report has 

 charted a national course which, if followed, can insure that the oceans 

 will benefit all mankind for generations to come through the leadership 

 of the United States. 



The Commission has provided a marine sciences blueprint which is 

 scaled to the total Nation-building plans of the future. Congress and 

 the President have been presented with an opportunity to establish a 

 permanent and stable place for oceanography in the list of national 

 priorities. 



The report has given us a national sense of direction which — if im- 

 plemented by the Federal Government — now can enable us to launch 

 a new decade of accomplishment in the oceans — a new era which will 

 see the world begin using the oceans widely and productively and in 

 peace. Now, I believe, is the moment to take the initiative. The world 

 will not stand by while nations hold each other at bay on a sea of food 

 and mineral resources for which there is a growing need. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Downing (presiding). Thank you. Dr. Fye, for a very fine 

 statement. 



Doctor, you make the statement that basic science and basic tech- 

 nology must move ahead together or perhaps not at all. I wonder if you 

 could elaborate on that a little bit, particularly basic technology. 



Dr. Fye. It seems to me, sir, that these are interlinked and inter- 

 woven in a very intimate way. It is certainly true that we must learn 

 something about the facts of the oceans before we begin to do things 

 in a major way, which is what technology is all about ; but I think today 

 the time is ripe for developing both. 



We have had five or 10 decades of exploring the oceans and learning 

 something about them. We know a great deal about the oceans. There 

 is a great deal we don't know, but I think we are now ready to begin 

 major projects in the oceans. This will require the development of a 

 capability for doing things in the oceans and thus approach the day 

 when we will be making use of the oceans in a very major way. 



So, as I see it, in the days ahead the development of a fundamental 

 technology may be even more important than the research activities 

 which I normally represent with my Woods Hole hat on. This will 

 be the way in which the United States can stake its claim in the oceans 

 in an effective and imaginative way. 



Mr. Downing. Could you give us an example of fundamental 

 technology ? 



Dr. Fye. I think there are a number of examples that we could take 

 from the recent past. If I may, I would like to take an example from 

 Woods House because I know those best. 



