Apprehension @. Range Contamination of JapayY Fishing Grounds and its Japenese apprehensions over the posibility of long range radiologieel. contamination were very similar to those we en- countered in the United States as a result of NPG operations. A difference in Japan is due to the fact that none, if any, of the counting equipment is calibrated, GM tubes are used without shields, and under conditions where the background count is apt to be highly variable. This, ccupled with the fact that they do not know the background activities of such things as soil and biological materials, makes it very difficult “to evaluate the reports. Many of the reports of "ash" falling in verious parts of Japan are undoubtedly dust or soot falls that occur normally in any industrial area from time to time. Reputable scientists have examined samples of potassium-rich soil and have reported their date is gross counts without any reference to normel soil background. For this reason I find it very difficult to take serious the frequent public report of 50 to 100 counts per minute for the unspecified size of samples reported from time to time. At my conference with the Japan scientists and government officials on March 2h, I explained the procedures we use in the States for measuring fallout. I urged them to use similar procedures for the sake of uniformity and offered to loan them the equipment we used. They secmed eager to accept and I requested 4 sets of equipment which has Since arrived from the States. However, since the arrival of this equipment, I have delayed giving it to the Jepanese because in their present state of mind little good could come of ite I do believe, however, that when the present confusion subsides, it will be useful for the Japanese to maintain a fallout monitoring network and I think we should cooperate with them to the fullest extent. In a conference with Dr. Kobayoshi on March 26, I informed him of my conversation with Dr. Bugher and his offer in behalf of the Atomic Energy Commission to provide financial support for marine biological studies directed at the long range contamination of the Pacific. Dre Kobeyoshi, through his interpretor, expressed his appreciation for this offer but did not pursue the matter further and has not approached me since. . With regard to fallout on the Japanese islends themselves, it is to be remembered that the position of those islands in relation to possible sites of weapons testing is such that the Russian testing program is apt to produce more fallout than events in the Marshalls or Nevada. ~ Estimating the Whole Body Dose I doubt that it will be possible to make a satisfactory estimate of either the Beta or Gamma dose the fishermen received. We know that the ash fell in such quantities that the deck of the ship became white, and there was sufficient material to develop visible footprints. Unfortunately, this is the limit of our information on how much ash fell and how long it remained on the ship. The fishermen washed the decks in order to remove the ash and according to their reports their washing was effective. Then the vessel errived in Yaizu much of what. remained was removed.