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Division of Biology and Madi~ine We have just returned from our resurvey of the Bikini and IMuetok completed with a&l the stations occupied and sufficient data gathered that it will now be pO88ible for u8 to evaluate the change8 that have We arrived at BiHni on July 3, 1948 and remained until. July 20. The weather during our stay ua8 uniformly fair 80 that we oould work in the field each day. Collection8 were made in each collecting area with samples of the aquatic fauna and flora gathered for preservation by d-g, ashing or chemical. means* A totalof 1878 ashed samples were prepared at Bikini. Material gathered for further Study in our labOratOrie8 will greatly increase the number of 8amples. The period from July 21 to July 30 was rpent at Eniwetok where we oollected eXten8ively in six 8xea8m Three of the collecting areas were in the relatively uncontaminated areas, with three stations near major sowces of contaminating material8. Spot collection8 and plankton sampling helped to complete the sampling. We prepared 798 a8hed 8amples while at Mwetok and returned~tith frozen, dried, and chemically preserved mnples for continuing the study at our laboratory. The counting of the activity .contained in the 8a1IQleS is getting under- , way* AB fast as oounts Fe made and the data analyzed we will prepare summary report8 that will be sent to you, ‘It is entirely too early to predict with certainty the distribution of the fission products, it doe8 $88~~ however, that there ha8 been a 8hift of active material8 at RM.ni up onto the lar1d.1na88 and into the vegetation. Some collections were made ‘of land plants and anida to study the amunts contained in the variou8 form. The organisation of the data oolleoted during this, and previous years’ expeditions into a complete study till be a very Hemlean tcrsk. We hope that on your next trip to the rest you oan visit our laboratory 8o that we may review the problem8 and develop those that will contribute to 8x1 undes standing of the most important phares of the work.
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Mviaion of Biologyand xedicine ,TheNavy were very helpfulin all pharesof the helped expeditethe movementof per8onne1,equ%pment a8 our liaisonofficer. Mr. Schmidtir a fine young an u&wstanding of the problems. and materials. we Very sincemly yours,