an 4 4 om mse v fist w fa: wise>one, Tha “ee A B Tce Loo Ve taminati-n was con- fined tofthe surface. >9f the Mish and occured wher the radi»xactive ashea fell and‘entered the ships hold. With the decision of the United States Food ind Drug Administratian to monitor incoming shipments of tuna, the shipping companies operating out of Japan initiated a requirement that the Japanese certify expirt @ shipments as being free of radioactivity. ‘os When I arrived in Japan on March 22, the Japanese had already monitored ~ their first outgoing shipment of frozen tuna. The Ministry of Welfare undertook to have its sanitation inspectors trained in the use of geiger counters and began the routine inspection of both incoming and outgoing tuna at five ports, 11 vessels were instructed to return to one of these ports, Five geiger counters were obtained from the Far Fast Command and loaned to the Japanese, In addition, they mustered approximately the same number from various sources in Japan, . On Merch 2u, at a conference with the Japanese Government officials, they asked for my recommendation for maximum permissible contamination, They also asked that I recommend the kind of examination that should be made of the fish, Because of my unfariliarity with the mechanical details of handling tuna shipments, I suggested that I be permitted to study tuna loading operations scheduled for the following day. Thereupon it was arrenged that I should accompany Japanese officials to Yokohama where the Batan was being loaded with frozen albacor, Tuna shipments involve many fish and it is not an easy natcer to monic. properly with inexperienced personnel and only a few survey instruments. Based on my inspection of the Batan, I suggested thet every tenth fish be monitored for about 1 minute by passing an open window GN probe over the surface of the fish, paying particular attention to the gills. I -tso instructed them to insert the probe into the mouth of the tuna ana into the abdominal incision through the fish. otoozs wd aod There remained the question of criteria for rejection of fish found to be contaminated, Again it is not a simple matter to evaluate the risk & ° he, a ee te “a O*, F gros soft to a consumer of tuna from mecsurements made in this way. I informed the Japanes® that I was unable to propose a realisti: figure without some study. On the other hand it was my belief that significantly contaminated fish were not likely to be found. Low level fall cut to the skins of the fish was, of course, a possibility. This seemed to bo af little significance in view of existing cannery practices which strips the skins from .he fish when processing begins. I told the Japanese I would be standing ‘* in Tekyo, that they should continue to monitor the fish tmecnei nroposed, and that when and if contaminated fisn we... * > Togndun ™ advised and givén the opportunity immediately %o make a first hand invpect .:7 of the fish. My recommendations would depend ~. what I found, No contarinated tuna have been brouzht to my attention. Newspapers have occasionally reported incoming ghipment of contaminated fish but tne Japanese nad nat requested that I make an examination of them. F Wie - we ~, x a ar an i weed: Feet See= nay moe : - : a ‘op