hiepess nn JOHN C, BUGHER, MD" ay MERRIL EISENBUD ctehlindiMlL thio 4 ;, ee CONTAJINATION OF THE FUKURYU MARU AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS IN JAPAN: PRELIMINARY REPORT ° I have recorded some of the observations made during mv visit to pokucye toWere assist in the various problems arising out of the mishap te th: I am sending this riong to you av this time because you will no dows want a preliminary report prior to my return to the states . in about 2 weeks, Thie memorandum is intended to augment the report that Dr. Morton will submit to you. I have attempted to limit myself to factors other abate ae aeoe: a, ETtlere than those associated with the clinical phases of the problem, with which Dr. Morton's group are concerned, THE INCIDEMT The mishap which befell the Fukuryu Maru became known to the Embassy and the world on March 16 through reports in the Japanese press. This was two days after the 100-ton fishing vessel had retumed to its h--s port of Yaisu. The facts of the incident, as determined by the / Foreign Office and communicated (1) to the Ambacsedor, am .o fo. (1) The course of the vessel from its departure on January 27 to its re- turn to Yaisu on March 1) is plotted in Figure No. 1. At O12 hours on time of detonation. The vessel's position was approximately 11° amt March 1 a streak of light reported by the crew is believed to igenti ty tho $32: north and 166° 343! east, This position is only a few miles from the easternr:<t limit of the Marshall Islands danger area in effect at that time. (2) ; Two blasts in succession were heard about 7 or 6 minutes after the light had been seen. The crew is reported to have become apprehens and began at that time to haul in their fishing lines, an operation which continued until 1030 hours, at which time the vessel headed north "to get 2 2 out of the area", i (3),na about 0700 on March 1, ashee began to fall, turning the deck # white. $5 2 i he pesition of the vessel at this time is given at 11° 5963/1) 3a north and 166° L2$! east. The ashes kept falling until 1 - st hie time the position of the vessel was estimatc< at 12° thi pe. east. ~, (1) ° 3g . Aide Memoire of March 27 e ivl 83 9 e . ° e e .