MARCH 1, 1954 A Narrative of the Incident Some ten knots west and somewhat north of 11° 09' north latitude, 166° 54' east longitude, in the deep blue and purple waters of the western Pacific ocean, a 100-ton dragon lay wallowing in the sea. The longline tuna fisning vessel Diego Fukuyu Maru, or Lucky Dragon No. 5 was riding easily with the early morning swells as its crew began to figut off tne ghosts of sleep. Sea birds which had nested for the night, began lifting skyward to begin the endless hunt for food. In like manuer, tuna and otier fisl beneath the surface would begin seeking small oait fisn near the surface. between the tuna and the birds waited the Lucky Dragon, also preparing to join the hunt. The Lucky Dragon's journey had begun January 22, from its home port of Yaizu City. Ship's captain hisakichi Tsuitsui had at first headed nis vessel toward tne fishing grounds near tiawaii and ifidway. When these grounds proved unproductive, he headed the Dragon and its 23 man crew south, toward the ilarsnall Islands. (02, p. 170). The captain, and tne fishing master toshio Misaki, apparently disappointed and anxious about their small catch, decided to fish near Bikini Atoll, the site of the first postwar atomic bomb tests--despite the fact they risked being caugnt by the U.S. Navy for fishing in Trust Territory waters. t Perhaps also nagging at the back of tiieir minds was the knowledge that [ 1 The lure of a final big catch to fill their holds must have outweighed any such anxiety as they pushed closer to Bikini. It L- eight years ago. “se Bikini had been the site of nuclear tests--but that had been nearly was, after all, nearly a matter of now or never, since an accidentally would soon force them to return home. The Dragon's luck had not been g good this voyage and, g femme and dwindling fuel reserves beet cut line 4.