AS age setting lines at 0342 hours at Lat. 11952 1/2'N. and Long. 166°35'E. Afterward it cruised for ten (10) minutes toward the north-east (estimated cruising distance: 1 1/4 nautical miles), and drifted with its engine stopped. About 0412 hours, after it had drifted about twenty (20) minutes (estimated westward tideway, about one half (1/2) nautical mile), a streak of light which seemed to have resulted from an atomic bomb explosion was seen. The vessel's position at that time was approximately Lat. 11°53-1/4'N. and Long. 166935-1/4'E, About seven or eight minutes after the light had been seen, a detonation apparently resulting from an atomic bomb explosion was heard and the vessel immediately started hauling in its lines. This operation ended at 1030 hours and the vessel headed toward the north to get out of the area. After 0440 hours, March 2 the vessel shifted its course toward the north-west and headed for Yaizu. It entered the port of Yaizu at 0600 hours on March 14. Ifl. Circumstances of the Accident:- 1. About 0412 hours on March 1, a reddish brilliant light was seen in the direction of west-southwest of the vessel. The color of this light gradually turned to white-yellow and again back to red and faded away. No wind resulting from the explosion was felt within the next seven or eight minutes but two blasts were heard in succession. A cloud having the shape of a mushroom was seen in the direction where the light was first seen and this cloud started to expand covering the sky with dark clouds. As the crew saw the light, some of them realized that probably an atomic test, about which they remembered having read in the newspapers, might have occurred. Anticipating danger, they started hauling in the lines at about 0430 hours, from the position where they had previously finished setting the lines, pro“gressing in the opposite direction toward the northeast. The lines were hauled in by machine using what is called a linehauler. While hauling in the lines the vessel's engine repeated the process of "go slow ahead" and "stop" and the same again. In the present instance all hands with the exception of a few engineers on watch were working on the upper deck and in the wheel house. In the midst of the operation of hauling lines, about three (3) hours later than the moment the light had been seen, and at the estimated position of Lat. 11°56 3/4'N. and Long. 166942 1/2'E. aShes started to fall on the deck, which was turned white. As the hauling operation ended about 1030 hours in the vicinity of the estimated position of Lat. 12°03'N. and Long. 166°53'E. the 466