45 



of the Smithsonian's research program is con- 

 ducted on the continental shelf. 



Proposed FY 1967 Program 



Biological and Geological Research and Services 



This program is a continuation of research 

 into the nature of the living and non-living par- 

 ticles in the oceans and sediments. Also to be 

 continued are studies of the evolution and de- 

 velopment of living marine populations, the 

 storage and exchange of energy in marine eco- 

 systems, and the history of the ocean basins as 

 related to the development of explanations of 

 existing life patterns and prediction of the life 

 forms on other planets. Archeological studies of 

 underseas sites will be imdertaken on a limited 

 basis. A specimen processing center receives and 

 sorts biological and geological collections and 

 makes them available to scientists for research. 

 In order to carry out this program a small marine 

 operations center is maintained. 



Oceanography in Foreign Currency Countries 



As a new oceanographic effort in FY 1967 the 

 Institution proposes to undertake mutual research 

 and service operations with those countries on 

 the excess foreign currency list. These currencies 

 have accrued to the United States government in 

 amounts in excess of normal reqtiirements, and 

 the U.S. has agreed to use them in the nation of 

 origin on projects approved by both the U.S. 

 and foreign government concerned. Within its 

 traditional and historic interests in specimen 

 oriented research into the kinds, distributions, 

 and populations of organisms in the world ocean, 

 the Institution proposes to use its existing capa- 

 bilities in cooperation with excess currency 

 countries to study organisms and sediments in 

 the seas adjacent to such countries. 



In cooperation with the Food and Agriculture 

 Organization of the United Nations and with the 

 Mediterranean Association for Marine Biology 

 and Oceanography, the Institution proposes to 

 study basic problems of the distribution of marine 

 organisms. Recent changes in salinity in the Suez 

 Canal and adjacent waters have permitted an in- 

 vasion of Mediterranean w^aters by Indian Ocean 



species. These species may upset the life pat- 

 terns of people along the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean and thus have great potential interest. 

 Additionally, the Institution expects to gain 

 kno\vledge of great value in predicting the effect 

 of a sea level canal across the middle American 

 isthmus. 



One or more specimen processing centers 

 similar to and cooperative with the Institution's 

 presently highly successful Oceanographic Sort- 

 ing Center will be developed and operated in a 

 foreign currency country. These will provide a 

 capability for engaging in collection oriented 

 research efforts in the Mediterranean Sea and 

 in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. 



Construction of the Aswan Dam will change 

 the flow pattern from the Nile River into the 

 Mediterranean Sea. Funds from the foreign cur- 

 rency program are expected to contribute to an 

 understanding of the mechanisms of this change 

 as it effects the Eastern Mediterranean. 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE 



FY 1965-1432,000 

 FY 1966-1488,000 

 FY 1967-1476,000 



Background 



The Department of State supports work con- 

 ducted by eight international fisheries commis- 

 sions of which two, the Inter-American Tropical 

 Tuna Commission and the International Pacific 

 Halibut Commission support oceanographic 

 fisheries research programs. The U.S. share of 

 FY 1967 funding of these two Commissions is 

 reported (above) to the Interagency Committee 

 on Oceanography. 



Proposed FY 1967 Program 



Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission 



The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission 

 is directed to conduct scientific investigations 

 required to understand the biology and ecology 

 of tropical tunas and tuna-bait fishes of the eastern 

 Pacific and the effects of both natural factors and 



