-2In reviewing the data it should be noted that where average
values are given, these are arithmetic means and conservative

values.

The true mean is less than the arithmetic mean,

since

the distribution of radiological values is either Poisson or
logarithmetic.
Also it should be noted that some values are
in terms of wet weights and others, dry weights.
(For some

samples wet weights are difficult to determine reliably).

Wet

to dry ratios for various types of samples are of the order of
4 to 10.
Also, the average value such as given in (4) and the

inherent errors associated with lumping things together without
consideration for the errors within or between species and

within or between areas.

The table of survey meter readings (1) lists maximum and average
values at ground levels and at three feet above the ground,
and for gamma and beta-gamma combined.
The maximum value

was 21 mr/hr for beta-gamma at ground level for an area about
ten feet in diameter (not a crater) on Rumurikku Island.
In
my conversation with Dr. Dunham I commented that perhaps levels

of radiation in a few small areas might require the establishment of exclusion areas, but upon looking at the other information from this area, this conclusion may not have been justified.
The table of 299sr values

(3)

does not list coconut crabs.

Only

one coconut crab was captured at Bikini in 1964 and the analyses

of samples from this speciman were not completed before preparation of the table.
The 9[%sr and 137cs values are as follows:

Shell
Muscle

90sr

137¢5 in pci/g (dry)

2200
(600 est.)

192
940

Liver

135

The analyses of the muscle sample for 20sr is in process, but

based upon the ratio of 290sr in shell and muscle of Coenobita,
a closely related crab, and in coconut crabs from Rongelap, a

value of 600 pCi/g(dry) has been estimated.

As you recall,

coconut crab was the only food item forbidden to the Rongelapese

when they return to their home island.

The values for radionuclides in soils that you asked for are
given in Table (5).
These are values for the gamma~-emitting
radionuclides.
These samples have not been analyzed for
plutonium,
Todate, our plutonium analyses have been limited
to Johnston Atoll samples.

Select target paragraph3