profiles to be plotted on lIlaps—a technique particu- larly helpful in reconnaissance surveys (see, for An Operational example, Herron, in press). Data Processing System for The production of charts merits further discussion because of the potential application of this tech- Natural History Specimens nique to other investigations. For instance, final ad- justed track charts could be produced on board ship on a- day to day basis. The programs incorporate B. J. LANDRUM subprogFams which provide scaling, grid drawing, 2 Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center and annotating for a Mercator Projection of vari- Smithsonian Institution able scale. Functions are employed which convert latitude and longitude to the proper x-y coordinates and for plotting within a specified area. These programs K. G. SANDVED utilize tables (within the program) which are effec- tively tables of meridional parts and allow plotting Office of Antarctic Programs of all areas of the world from 80°N. to 80°S. The National Science Foundation size of a specific plot is limited only by the scale chosen and the physical limitations of the plotter. In this fast-moving world where advances in It is the intention of the Lainont-Doherty investi- technology often seem to outpace the progress in gators eventually to do all basic data processing and science, there are some areas where the phase dis- display on board Eltanin within a few hours or a placement is particularly evident. A good example day of the actual data collecting. There are many is museums, which, although faced with formidable advantages to this approach: Errors in data collec- problems in inventorying and cataloging specimens tion will be caught early and corrected, more intelli- collected over decades and even centuries, only re- gent decisions regarding the day-to-day and cruise- cently have begun to apply computers to the task to-cruise schedule and track of the ship can be made, of inventorying and retrieving their ever-increasing and time in the laboratory can be devoted entirely holdings. As a result, large and significant collections to the detailed analysis of the data collected. Experi- exist about which little is known. Thus, in an age ence indicates that the machine time required for the when even railroad operations have become com- reduction and display of the navigation and of the puterized, a systematist studying natural-history geophysical data is less than one hour per day of specimens may still have to go from museum to data collection. museum to view endless rows of labelled containers merely to see if there might be specimens available that would be useful in his research. Depending upon 2 The inappropriateness of the Mercator Projection for the his specific needs, he may conclude that it is easier, southern portion of antarctic waters is readily apparent. and possibly more profitable, to undertake a field- There is no reason why conic or polar projections could collecting excursion of his own, or to participate in not he employed, however; in fact, a Lambert conformal conic projection has already been programmed but has a large-scale, multipurpose program. not yet been widely utilized. In the Lamont-Doherty If he happens to join a marine expedition, our plotting programs, subprograms have been used exten- systematist, who may be concerned with only one sively, and plotting at other map projections can he taxonomic group of animals or plants, will find that realized with no basic changes in programming logic. the use of trawls and similar collecting devices often produces assemblages that far exceed his immediate References needs and interests, while time and shipboard facili- ties may limit efforts to preserve and record any but Hayes, D. E., M. Talwani, and J . L. Worzel. 1967. Sat- the needed materials. The collector may elect to ellite Navigation in Relation to Surface Ship Gravity Measurements. Paper presented at the 37th International return everything to the sea that is not of direct Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, interest to him, or he may remove wanted specimens, Oklahoma City, October-November 1967. briefly label the remainder and ship it to his home Herron, E. In press. Crustal plates and sea floor spread- institution, where it may rest with its presence un- ing in the southeastern Pacific. Antarctic Research Series. known to most of the scientific community. Thus, the Talwani, M. 1969. A Computer System for the Reduc- tion, Storage and Display of Underway Data Acquired opportunity to utilize the total assemblage by chan- at Sea. Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Co- neling "unwanted" specimens into the hands of other lumbia University. Technical Report No. 1, CU-1-69 specialists is lost. N000 14-67--A--0 108-- 0004. To assure optimum efficiency, a multipurpose, Talwani, M., J . Dorman, J. L. Worzel, and G. M. Bryan. 1966. Navigation at sea by satellite. Journal of Geophy- large-scale, and continuous expeditionary effort re- sical Research, 71(24): 5891-5902. quires a focal point for coordinating all phases of 278 ANTARCTIC JOURNAL work involved in the care, preservation, recording, made to channel representative specimens into the and distribution of the natural-history collections. collections of the U.S. National Museum (Sandved, Without prompt identification of the specimens, the 1965). In the meantime, large collections had been worthwhileness of the effort is dissipated. Conse- brought back. Some of them were stored or forgotten quently, it is vital to place the unstudied materials for lack of interest, funds, or time to study them. quickly in the hands of specialists. To expedite this Some were examined, then disposed of at the con- process, three ingredients are required: (1) a cen- clusion of the research project. Others were left tral receiving and sorting repository with technical behind in the no-mans- land of university storage competence to match the spectrum of materials, (2) cabinets when the collector moved on to new posts a data-handling facility capable of storing and re- and different challenges. In these and many other trieving information essential to the study of the cases, the collections remained inaccessible to other collections, and (3) a body of senior scientists corn- scientists who wanted to study them, quite often petent to evaluate and recomniend the most appro- because their existence was known only to a few priate systematist for each group of specimens. individuals. The problems of data and specimen handling were The bulk of the collections brought back from recognized early in the U.S. Antarctic Research Pro- Antarctica are still distributed widely to individuals gram (USARP), perhaps because the program is a and institutions for identification and study. The prime example of the multipurpose, large-scale significant differences today are that preliminary sort- expeditionary effort requiring detailed coordination ing has been made before distribution, and after the for optinmumu efficiency. The Smithsonian Institution, specimens leave the distribution center, efforts are very much aware of the same problems, decided to made to ascertain any further changes in their loca- establish its Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting tion and to determine the stage of processing. Center (SOSC) at about the same time (Wallen, During April and May of 1963, two meetings were 1963). held between representatives of the Smithsonian In- The U.S. Antarctic Research Program is a national stitution and the Office of Antarctic Programs of program in which academic institutions across the NSF for the purpose of discussing an arrangement land participate along with government agencies and, whereby the Smithsonian Institution would assume a few commercial organizations, it is financed en- the responsibility for sorting, distributing, and main- tirely with government funds and managed by the taining records on natural-history specimens col- National Science Foundation (NSF), which, through lected under USARP. These exploratory meetings its Office of Antarctic Programs, also provides for led to further discussions and on November 1, 19631 the required support of the scientists that it funds NSF made a grant to SOSC to begin processing of (Sandved, 1965). the marine biological collections from Eltanin and In the field, USARP is supported logistically other vessels operating in antarctic waters. It was largely by the efficient and capable U.S. Naval Sup- soon followed by another grant for the recording of port Force, Antarctica; however, in addition to spe- data on these and other antarctic specimen collec- cialized logistics, there are numerous other support tions. Both projects are now carried out under con- services that must be provided by the National Sci- tract with NSF.1 ence Foundation. Bsides such obvious, major re- NSF supports similar antarctic records centers at quirements as the operation of the NSF research other institutions. For example, a core library and ships Eltanin and Hero, the scientists, for example, distribution center for antarctic bottom-sediment need special clothing for use in the field; advice cores exists at Florida State University, and the and assistance both in the field and at the staging Armys Cold Regions Research and Engineering point in Christchurch, New Zealand; laboratory and Laboratory at Hanover, N.H. assumes a similar role transportation equipment and facilities; and aid for the continental ice cores. With a contract signed while working up their data in the United States. last year with the Smithsonian Institution for the In this brief introduction, we shall focus on one of processing of rock samples at SOSC, the circle ap- these latter services, available to scientists before they pears to have been completed, and present investiga- depart for Antarctica and after they return, and to tors and future generations are assured of access to, those who may never make the trip at all—informa- and preservation of, the antarctic collections obtained tion on natural-history specimens and collections.