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Directed by Dr. I. Eugene Wallen, who formerly directed the Smithsonian's Office of Environmental Sciences, the Bureau currently is doing research from the submersible and ashore on:

1. pressure effects on marine organisms;

2. the ecology of tropical waters, particularly the Bahamas and Caribbean regions;

3. the biology of sipunculid worms;

4. the biology of alligators and turtles;

5. the contaminate gases in an enclosed space, i.e., the submersible chambers; and,

6. the use of sewage effluence in aquaculture.

Studies of the possible use of worm reefs in beach erosion control are being developed. Some emphasis is anticipated in underwater archeology. The Secretary reported that he had been down in the submarine and that it worked very smoothly.

Mr. Ripley explained that little is known about the sipunculid worm. It is of interest to note that it does act as an indicator of health at beaches. The Associate Curator in the Division of Worms, Department of Invertebrate Zoology in the National Museum of Natural History, Dr. Mary E. Rice, has obtained a grant and is presently doing research on the sipunculid worm at Fort Pierce, Florida.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

The Secretary reported that the Board of Trustees of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden was going to hold its third meeting on Saturday, May 13, 1972, at the Hirshhorn estate in Greenwich, Connecticut.

The agenda will include status reports on the operations of the museum in New York by Mr. Lerner, the Director; on the status of construction of the museum in Washington by Mr. Bradley; and, on the work of the collections committee by Mr. Arnason; all under the chairmanship of Mr. Moynihan.