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Figure 33. Monitor amidship on USS Pensacola (CA-24) after CROSSROADS, BAKER.

On 30 July the last of the animals were removed from Gasconade and Conserver. Although most animals were located below deck, the great majority of them died by 1 November 1946. In nearly all cases, the cause of death was gamma radiation resulting from Test BAKER's radioactive rainout and base surge (Reference C.9.206, p. 8). Also, many of the fish in the northeast corner of the lagoon were killed by the explosion.

On 31 July, Bikini Island was declared safe and personnel were permitted to go ashore. The beaches were declared off limits, however, because of radioactive debris that may have washed up. Many target vessels still remained too contaminated to board and the persistent radioactivity on these ships made the prospect of reboarding "very discouraging" (Reference C.9.206, Part VI, p. D48). Three submarines remained submerged in the lagoon. The lagoon water, except near the bottom, had reached safe levels by the evening of 31 July, complete recovery of instrumentation and records was not competed until 7 August (Reference C.9.206, Part VI, p. D5-47).

On 8 August CJTF 1 requested authority from the Chief of Naval Operations to decommission, or place out of service, 38 target vessels at Bikini. He

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