fish was a wise one. There is reason t> believe that contamination was con- fined to the surface of the fish and occured when the radioactive ashes fell and entered the ships hold. With the decision of the United States Food and Drug Administration to monitor incoming shipments of tuna, the shipping companies operating out of Japan initiated a requirement that the Japanese certify export shipments as being free of radioactivity, When I arrived in Japan on March 22, the Japanese had already monitored their first outgoing shipment of frozen tuna. The Ministry of Welfare undertook to have its sanitation inspectors trained in the use of geiger counters and began the routine inspection of both incoming and outgoing tuna at five ports. 11 vessels were instructed to return to one of these ports. Five geiger counters were obtained from the Far Fast Command and loaned to the Japanese. In addition, they mustered approximately the same number from various sources in Japan, On March 2h, at a conference with the Japanese Government officials, they asked for my recommendation for maximum permissible contamination. They also asked that I recommend the kind of examination that should be made of the fish. Because of my unfamiliarity with the mechanical details of handling tuna shipments, I suggested that I be permitted to study tuna loading operations scheduled for the following day. Thereupon it was arranged thet I should accompany Japanese officials to Yokohama where the Batan was being loaded with frozen albacor. Tuna shipments involve many fish and it is not an easy matter to monitor properly with inexperienced personnel and only a few survey instruments. Based on my inspection of the Batan, I suggested that every tenth fish be monitored for ebout 1 minute by passing an open window GM probe over the surface of the fish, paying particular attention to the gills. I also instructed them to insert the probe into the mouth of the tuna and into the abdominal incision through the fish. There remained the question of criteria for rejection of fish found to be contaminated. Again it is not a simple matter to evaluate the risk to a consumer of tuna from mezsurements made in this way. I informed the Japanese that I was unable to propose a realistic figure without some study. On the other hand it was my belief that significantly contaminated fish were not likely to be found. Low level fall out to the skins of the fish was, of course, a possibility. This seemed to be of little Significance in view of existing cannery practices which strips the skins from the fish when processing begins. I told the Japanese I would be standing by in Tokyo, that they should continue to monitor the fish by the method I proposed, and that when and if contaminated fish were found I should be advised and given the opportunity immediately to make a first hand inspection of the fish. My recommendations would depend on what I found, No contaminated tuna have been brought to my attention. Newspapers have occasionally reported incoming shipment of contaminated fish but the Japanese had not requested that I make an examination of them. Zea arene UINCT Accreicrn