-*s

(1)

Contaminated Tuna,

(2) Appreh2nsion of long-range contamination of Japan and its fishing grounds,

(3)

Radiological factors affecting the fishermen:

(a)

Estimating the whole body duse.

(ob)

Estimated dese from internal emitters.

Contaminated Tuna

Some of the Japanese Government officials are already referring to
the latter half of March as the "great tuna panic". The origin of this
panic both in the United States and Japan is worthy of careful study.

the extent of the tuna consumption in the United States and Japan declined
during the second half of March is now knovm to me at this time.

For

a day prior to my departure from New York on March 19, and for 2 weeks

following my arrival in Tokyo on March 22 the subject of radioactive tune

was a subject of popular conversation.

When one considers the reaction

of the informed American public to the possibilites of contamination of
tuna it is not surprising that the Japanese were stampeded into apprehension over the immediate prospects of their eating radioactive tuna
and the long-range prospects of their fishing grounds being ruined.

(A)

Tuna Fishing Industry of Japan L/

The Japanese fishing [leet at the present time consists of about

1,000 vessels operating out of ten major ports.

The annual value of the

tuna catch approximates $26 million. The principal export species is
albacor, Sixty percent of the landed albacor catch went to Japanese

canners and forty percent was shipped abroad in freezers.

Sixty percent

of the albacor are caught in the summer season which extends from May
through July. During this season, the fishing grounds are located
relatively cluse to the Asiatic coast.
During the winter months, January through March, the Japanese
vessels range far out to sea. The winter season accounts for forty
percent of the annual catch,

(B)
tuna.

Contaminated Tuna in Japan.

The Fukuryu Maru landed at Yaizu with a catch of 28,000 pounds of
We must accept the fact that these tuna were excessively con-

taminated and that the decision of the Japanese to dispose of those
Le

An excellent report of technical information about the Japanese

Tuna fisheries in Japan is report No. 10) issued by the Natural Re-

sourd3s Section of SCAP in March, 1918.

Select target paragraph3