410959
\
ENIWETOK MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
Jme 23, 1956
_--
RG vote
SUBJECT: Marine Survey of EniwetokeBilcdni Arca
TOs
‘iceAERC.
Cammander
Task Uroup 7.3
GreaneSi yveys, Qo
LALTONS SHPORealusre
Personnel of this Laboratory camnlieted on June Zl a ten-day marine
aurvey set up under Progrem 35 of Task Trou 7.1 to obtain preliminary
lata a levela of rediation in waters of the ivetokediiini area.
The survey was conducted aboard the USS ‘ALTON (DE 361), which had
been placed at the disposal of ow croup and equipped with special zear
for taking water and plankton samples. ‘urine the cruise that be7an om
Jume 12 the WALTON covered some 3,00 niles over fifty~three collection
satationg in azore than 37,000 square miles of ocean area.
A letter report being forwarded by Captain Arthur imerson of the
~-
WALTON will supnly detailed information o (a) the installation of specicl
equipment and laboratory facilities aboard ship, (b) the orojected cruise
pattern of the mission, (c) the operation of the vessel on the collection
echedule, and (d) the track actually nade pood by the swALTOW as the survey
devel
« ron the standpoint of this Laboratory, however, the following
coments sees pertinent at this tine;
1. Except for necessary deviations in the cruise pattern occasioed
by otner echeduled events, the collections of saxples tere nade
alnost exactly as planned. The original olan called ‘or visits
to fifty stations between 153=59,1; and 166 E, but in the shifts
of station schedules late in the cruise one station to the
northeast was dropped and four stations were added at latitude
10-15 3, south of he main survey area. Thus the survey actually
covered fiftyethree stations fron a line 250 niles west of
Eniwetokz to a line just east of Bikini.
2. Collections of plankton were mads at an averare depth of 200
meters with a net lowered om 300 netera of steel cable. ‘ater
sexnples were taken at the surface at each station and at depths
of 25, 50, 75 and 100 neters,
3. Preliminary studies of senples were nossible in the shipboard
facilities and the rough pet erns of activity could be established
as the survey proceeded. ‘uhh nore detailed analyses already have
been started, however, and will be continued as rapidly as
possible in this Laboratory and in facilities of the Ap..lied
+
a
1
varia 8 Ny te
Kk Meas Sede
*isheries Laboratory of the ‘niversity of Vashineton,
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
yo
we