FOREWORD 



De1-ailed knowledge of a variety of oceanographic parameters is required 

 to fully understand the effect of the ocean environment on sound transmission. 

 One parameter which significantly influences sound propagation is the back- 

 scattering or volume reverberation caused by marine organisms. The Naval 

 Oceanographic Office is conducting an interdisciplinary research program 

 to investigate the scattering of sound by marine organisms; in particular, this 

 effort includes studies to determine the acoustic, biological and oceanographic 

 properties of sound scattering layers, as well as the relationships between these 

 properties. This report is the first of several concerning the results of biological 

 studies being conducted to investigate volume reverberation in the ocean. 



F. L. SLATTERY 



Captain, U. S. Navy 



Commander 



U. S. Naval Oceanographic Office 



