6 
the Geological Survey. Detailed plans for this survey are 
still in the formative stages. 
The PEIRCE (C&GS), a new 760-ton survey vessel, will 
complete her shakedown in March, and from April through 
September will be running Raydist-controlled offshore surveys 
working south from Cape Romain (3N). She will carry out 
detailed hydrographic, magnetic, and sub-bottom acoustic 
surveys plus bottom sediment and current studies over the 
area between the 10-fathom and 100-fathom depth contours. 
Standard oceanographic sections will be made normal to the 
coast. This survey is the part of the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey's continuing program of east coast offshore compre- 
hensive surveys. Other east coast and gulf coast surveys 
by ships of this bureau are primarily for nautical charting. 
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution working in 
conjunction with the Geological Survey will in 1963 commence 
a marine geological survey of the east coast shelf and slope, 
working south from Cape Hatteras. Position control will be 
by Loran-C with line spacing at 10 miles on the shelf and 
30 to 60 miles on the slope and seaward. Field work will in- 
clude profiles of bottom topography, magnetics, and sediment 
thickness plus sediment and rock sampling and such biological 
and physical data as may be important in interpreting the 
geological data. Plans for this survey are being coordinated 
with those of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. 
