~ 43 CC)?

December 31,

1958
oe

Dr. John N. Wolfe, Chief

Division of Biology and Medicine
United States Atomic Energy Commission
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear John:

Rather than send the information about the Rongelap fish ina
TWX we thought there would be less chance for error by calling

you directly.

For your record the information that was dictated

to Patt by telephone on December 31 is as follows:

The average gross beta values for Kongelap fish in terms of
microcuries per kilogramof wet tissue are as follows:
1.

March 1858, Kebelle Isiand reef fish
muscle whole fish -

2.

March 1958, Rongelap Island reef fish muscle whole fish -

3.

0.026
~ 0.10

0.006
~ 0.010

August 1958, Rongelap Island reef fish -(average maximumvalue)
muscle -

0.005

(This is an average of a group of fish for which tie values

from earlier collections have been a maximum).

4.

Current average values are as low as or lower than values from
any of the previous collections.

Isotopic composition of samples:
1.

The estimated amount of K*9 in muscle is approximately

2.

2n85 ts the principal gamma emitter in fish muscle.

. 003 pe/kg.

value from the August 1958 collection is 0.2 ywe/kg.

5002265

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Maximum

:

WTB fF

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