the reaction or.‘the. tnromnica Anovleen“public to ine
possiblity 2
ties of ‘contamination’of tuna 1t.48 not surprising thatthe Japan-.4
ese were stampeded into’ apprehension over the immediate’ pros>:. Et
pects of their eatingradioactive tuna and the long:range, prope
,
pects of their fishing grounds being “ruineds a
:
:
(A) Tuna Fishing Industry of “Japan|
the ‘Tapahese ‘fishing fleet.at the ‘présent’‘tine. consists:
of about 1,000’ vessels operating| out-of ten major “ports,” The, an-":
nual value.of the tuna, catch approximates $26 mililion,- The’ ‘prin-:
cipal export” species is“albacor; Sixty percent of the.landed?
albacor catch’ went to Japanese canners and forty" percent WaBLt ee be
shipped abroad in freezers;- Sixty percent of the albacor are Ges
caught in the summer season which extends from May through July
Curing this’ season, the fishing erounds., are.located netativelyclose to the Asiatic coaster
:
-
ot:
During.“the winter’“months, “Janhary, through.‘aren, ‘the, ‘Japan =
ese vessels range far’ out to seay- The Winter ,5eason”adéounta_ for-s.:°
forty percent of. the’“annualcatconss
“
:
TE yA
st
aoe ya
minated: Tuna “tn ‘Jevan’
-
22 DDE
ee ee TP
2 tTce
p
TNES NE
Mey
The’‘Pakaryy Marn landed.‘at yatzur with a “éatchwor 28,0008:
pounds’ of‘tuna.
We"“must”accept, the’ fact’ thatthese,tina >were=
excessively” contaminated ‘and.that ‘the _decision wor. the,.
Japenese: .-*,
to dispose. of these. fish”{was”"a wise. ones: There is”reason to be= -* os
lieve that”“corftamination was confined to the surface of. the:te oe
fish and occurred when the’ radioactive. ashes fell. andentered©
%
che ship's hold.
: ee~
ee
.
~
-
With ‘thedecision of ‘the United”States Food “and Brag 3
rinistration, to
3:
monitor _incoming shipments | of tuna, , the) ehip-i3
See
t
'
ping coapenees. operating|outof Japan initiated: a"_requirérent, that:
oO.ww
sady monitored their first outgoing shipment of frozenGunsese!
ve gelgzer™ counters were obtsined from the Far Eest Corc-2nd leaned to the Jeranese.
In addition, they mustered 2uproxiy the san2 nurcer from various sources in Jepa Neo
om
best
cr a:
weyors ba
PE py te Tire!
e Ministry of Welfare undertook to have its sanitation éinspecrs trained in the use of gelcer counters and began the routine iS pection of both incoming and outgoing tuna at five’ Ports. 2s. i:
a vessels were instructed to return to one of these ports.”
On March 24, at a Seonference with
the Jépenese Governcent
cfficiels, they esked for my recennencation for rexinum rerxcissible
contamination,
They also ached thet I recor-end the kind or exerira-
tion that Should be rade. of.the fis he. 2
L
ose
.
a
Because”“Of ny unferdliarity ,with.“thes Lechanical”details or’-<¢
hendlingtuna shiprents, I “suggestedthat I be’ permitted to”etnay
tuna loadingoperations scheduled forthe following d2y,= There.
upon it was arranged’that I >should-‘accon“pany Jepanese_ officials”ors
Yokohara’where the Batan”was, being.1c2ée a with Trozen albicor,'?.°.
.
a
woe wt
wowee eee 3.7
a7
-
.
.? Lifer
-
Peart
may,
+7"
ae
L/ An excellent. report of technical inforcation about_theapanede 3
tuna fisheries in Japan 1s Report No. 108 issued by.the> Natural”
Resources Section of SCAP in’ March 1948,_