It is our conclusion that Maryland is a highly suitable place for
holding annual conferences on the Oceanographic Program. Ours is a
maritime state? and has been since the sailors aboard the Ark and the
Dove dropped anchor near the mouth of the Potomac 330 years ago
and put ashore the first band of Maryland settlers. Our ties with the
sea have been intimate from the very beginning. Ocean commerce has
been, and remains, the economic lifeblood of our State. The social
and cultural aspects of our society have been molded by our proximity
to the great ocean waterways. Our destiny is linked inevitably to the
seas. It is small wonder, then, that Maryland is keenly aware of the
renewed interest in the explorations of oceans, their phenomena, their
resources. In this connection, we consider ourselves to be in a most
fortunate position in our proximity to Washington, D. G., the nerve
center of today's vast new Oceanographic program and a mecca of
oceanic scientists, engineers and others who are concerned with this
rapidly growing field of endeavor.

I have seen the program for today's events here, and I am profoundly
impressed both by the scope of your discussions and the great amount
of talent you have gathered together here to discuss specific projects
in the field. I know that the representatives of industry who are here
consider themselves as fortunate in being able to hear from govern-
ment officials as to what services are needed and what problems are to
be investigated by the National Oceanographic Program in future years.
In brief, I am sure that we have assembled here the experience, the
knowledge and the wisdom that is required for a thorough exploration
by industry and government of the complex problems related to the
non-defense aspects of oceanography.

May I, once again, say that it is a joy and a pleasure to welcome
you to Maryland for this first Governor's Conference on the National
Oceanographic Program. It is my hope that today's Conference will

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