problems are not mutually exclusive, for work towards the 
solution of one contributes to the understanding of the other. 
For the solution of all of this country's oceanographic 
problems, both applied and basic, there exists an increasing 
need for oceanographic data. 
There are two general approaches to the acquisition of 
the required data at sea: research and surveys. The research 
approach entails the collection of data to solve a specific 
research problem. It is directed towards answering the 
questions "how" and "why". The surveys approach, on the 
other hand, is directed towards answering the questions "what",. 
"where", and "when"; it is the larger scale investigation 
designed to obtain systematic data for multiple purposes over 
an extended area, entails a larger degree of standardization 
of techniques, and requires the most accurate of position 
control. From basic oceanographic surveys will come the base 
maps of the ocean, will come data necessary for the solution 
of many of the applied problems of the federal agencies, 
will come the delineation of areas and features to which 
the research ships will then return in order to solve new 
basic research problems which these data have suggested. 
From these surveys will come systematic data with immediate 
application to the solution of many existing research prob- 
lems. The systematic investigation of the world ocean allows 
for detailed planning in advance so that eam trip of each 
ship contributes a segment to the overall task. 
