nislo and Pnisetok. Radiation levels were recorded on the three islands; the intensity increased as the party moved northward, as was expected, Actual resdings are presented in Inclosure No. J.
Mialo
Taland, birds eggs were gathered for testing since the natives include
these in their diet.
Dr. White condusted an experiment on Rorigelap Island in which he
used fire-fighting equipment fran the PHILIP to wash down the thatch
roof of one of the native buildings. After a considerable drenching
the intensity of the roof waa reduced by ten percent, as some of the
~
contamination was washed off the roof onto the ground.
%
Members of the ship's canpany were spearfishing in the afterncan
and donated their catch to the callection of food samples which will
be tested.
The survey of Rongelap was concluded and the party returned to
the PHILIP. Certain general cbservations were presented in regard to
the current situation at Rongelap:
1. The presem intensity of radiation on Rongelap Island is 1520 millircentgens per hour (nr/hr).
Ze Little damage to buildings on Rongelap has ccourred since the
evacuation. The Rongelap natives confirmed this. However, heavy rains
or storms during the year or more that the natives will be absent will
probably cause considerable damage. An estimate of the repairs necessary
for the return of the population mist be based on a survey mace just
prior to this return,
3. The survey party was imcressed with the primitiveness of the
dwellings. The buildings were walled with woven panels of screp lim
ber and were inveriably roofed with thatch. The natives sleep on zats
which are laid on bare woodfloors or directly on the ground. No other
furniture is. present in the sleeping dwellings except a few wood baces
for storing clothes in each roam. The fantlies eat in adjacent buildings
or outside, The evacuation of the remvinder of the household effects of
the &2 Rongelap natives wil], not present mich of « problen.
The only building in the village which showed the work of skilled
he
carpentry was the church.
However, thie edifice had burned shortly before
2 Mareh.
5. The water supply is precarious.
im the village.
aide,
‘There sre six concrete cisterns
These cisterna are concrete boxes abcaut five feet om a
The rein falling om the tin roofs of the cisterns is callected by
draining it through gutters into the baxeg.
Four of the six cisterns :m-
tained water, of which eamples were taken for testing.