The Bismarck tribune., 1924-11-22
EXPLORING OF
OCEAN FLOOR
BEING URGED
Ocea nographic Survey
Would be Made to Discover
Many Facts. Under Plan
WHAT is TO BE SOUGHT

Washington, Nov. %. jules
Vcrnc's exploration of the sea bottom
by the mythical Captain Memo is to
have its counterpart in reality, if re-
Communications embodied in the final
report of the Conference on Oceano-
graphy to the Secretary of the Navy,
made public today, are put into prac-
tice.
The l.. S. S. Rainbow, which has
recently been on service in the
Orient, would be fitted out for ocean
ographic researches under the plan
as outlined by Lieutenant Commond-
cr George +. Brandt, u. S. Navy, Sc
crctary general of the conference.
The region of the Gulf of Mexico
and the Caribbean Sea, and neighbor-
ing parts of the North Atlantic, ex-
tending through the Panama Canal
into the Pacific, have been selected
as the starting point of the cxpedi-
ton. An estimated expenditure Of
S57, 800 would be required at first.
With Captain +. &. Bassctt, L. S.
n, photographer Of the navy, as its
thc conference IcCOHIIlcIlu-
ed that research work in occano-
graphy form permanent part Of ma
val activities. Those who took part
in the conference included rcprcscn-
tatives Of the State, Treasury, War,
Navy, Interior, Agriculture. and Com
merce Departments, the Smithsonian
Institution, the National Academy
of Sciences and National Research
Council. the Library of Congress, the
Carnegie Institution and Shipping
Board. as we'll as Secretary Wilbur,
Captain r. W. Wallace. editor Of
Fishing Gazette and Herbert j.
Browne, long range weather forecast
cr.
A national cooperative program Of
research in oceanography is the goal
seen by the conference. To explore
some of the ocean waters that cover
five sevenths of the carth's surface
and exploit food, plant and animal re-
sources in thcm and gain scientific,
geographic, economic and climatic in
formation, is the motive that prompts $
it,
Definite Objects
The definite objects which the con
ference had in mind are: discovering,
developing and utilizing, the re-
sources of the sea; facilitating navi-
cation Of the sea and air and improv-
ing communication by radio and sub
marine cable; promoting human vel
fare through scientific discovery and
the progress Of knowledge and safe
guarding human life. Work in the
North Pacific and North Atlantic
Oceans would be undertaken at lat
er time.
Among the scientific problems tl
be taken up are: shapes, contours ant
depths of ocean basins; evaporation
and rain. fog and snow over sea ano
land areas; distribution and periodic
changes in atmosp sphcric pressures and
winds; ocean currents and vertical
circulation of ocean waters; sca-wa-
ter chemistry; shifting of shore lines,
warplng of margins of continents
and submarine upheavals and disloca-
tlons; nature and composition Of sea
bottom; previous land connections
and changes in existing connections
between continents; areas and fea-
lures of submarine volcanism and
earthquake movement; selimenta-
tlon; light penetration in sea water
and its bearing on plant and animal
life; distribution of the intensity of
gravity; distribution, relative album
dance and inter-rclations Of various
forms of plant and animal life; visi-
bility under different atmospheric
conditions; height, length and velo-
city of ocean waves, and the location
and extent Of fields of static and
electro-static disturbances and in
vestigations of other forms of at
mospheric electricity.
Practical Results
Included in the practical results
which the conference expects, are:
discovery of new fishing banks as aid
to food supply; full understanding
OF climate and developing of better
means of predicting weather condi-
tlons; solution Of weather problems
affecting sea and air navigation;
knowledge of iceberg drifts; location
OF deposits of oil, ores and other
economically important resources;
and improvement of radio communi-
cation and reduction of operating
cost OF radio stations. Specimens Of
scientific Importance would be trans
ferred to the National Museum for
study, exchange or other disposition,
agreed on with tho pavy