포로신문
보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4332

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0023)　19 October 1950

PW gave information called for by interrogator but was not too talkative. Information is mostly general.

6 Jul 47: Left HUNGNAM (興南) aboard VECHERSI (■…■) an 8000 ton freighter with 1,300 Koreans, including women and children. Stopped at DOMARI, then went to MIKAYAN, KAMCHATKA.

24 Jul 47: Went ashore at NIKAYAN (coordinates unknown) vic PETROPAULOVSK. Cleaned and salted fish.

o/a 1 Nov 48: Boarded LENINGRADSKI, 8,000 ton freighter and went to PETROPAVLOVSK where PW exchanged rubles for Korean yen - ￥4 to 1 ruble.

o/a 2 Nov 48: Went ashore at HUNGNAM. No stops on the way.

7 Aug 50: Drafted into NKA at CH’ONGJIN (淸津). Assigned to 3rd Sqd, 1st Plat, HMG Co, 6th Bn.

25 Aug 50: Arrived YONCH’ON (連川) on foot. Went AWOL while under air attack. Lived in the mountains travelling southward.

8 Oct 50: Surrendered to ROK forces at TONGDUCH’ON (東頭川)

MIKAYAN - The coast here was sandy and had a gradual beach.

Tides: As high as 50 cm. During high tides the ocean water flows back into river upstream to as much as 3 km inland.

Most Koreans were dissatisfied with this place and not more than 10% stayed longer than necessary. Koreans found themselves doing the heavy dirty jobs. They were paid less for their labor than were the Russians. When rations were distributed, the Russians got first opportunity at it, consequently PW got less. A few gang fights occurred in 1947 starting from individual arguments but these people were tried and sentenced. No fights occurred in 1948 as the Koreans decided not to fight back as it sould be useless.

Court was held in PETROPAVLOVSK after the local MVD investigated the circumstances of the fight.

All Koreans lived in tents 12 m x 4 m holding from 25 to 30 persons. Wooden beds with one blanket were used. There was only one wood burning stove per tent. Clothing was bought individually and were cotton lined suits. Due to intense cold, it was almost impossible to sleep during the winter. Russians lived in log barracks of various sizes.

MIKAYAN Branch Fish Factory:

Hq of this fish factory was located in PETROPAVLOSK. Six salting factories (#1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9) and 2 canning factories were found in a 20 km x 30 km area which was called MIKAYAN.

A 240,000 sq ft open area was fenced off and called the #2 factory. Fish caught at sea was brought here, salted and dumped on the sand in mounds up to 1 m high. Various types of fish were kept separate. Because herring would decay readily, a 1 m deep 8 ft by 8 ft hole was dug and lined with canvas and filled with salted herring. These are taken away soon as possible.

In Feb-Apr 48, 4 freighter loads of 6,000 tons of fish was sent away. This was 500% of the “NORM”.

Yellowfish - 60% of total

Salmon - 5% of total

“IRIKO” (Immature sardines) - 15% of total

Herring - 10% of total

Miscellaneous - 10% of total

Best season for:

Yellowfish - Aug-Sep

Salmon - Sep-Jan

“IRIXO” - Mar-May

Herring - May-Jul

A 3 km x 30 km flat area N-S along the coast was the main factory and residential area. Area inland (E) of this slim narrow strip was swampy tundra.

There was a mountain range 20 km inland (E) of the coast. Snow was seen year around on this mountain.

River: 10-15 m wide, 5-7 m deep, with very slow rate of flow, ran S to N just E of the factory area and emptied into the ocean. Water from the swamp surrounding the factory area emptied into this river. The banks are not very steep and when the ocean water backs into the river, the river becomes 2 m wider.

None. Individual grow potatoes in their gardens. Soil is very poor. Cows are raise on grass growing in the mountains. Pigs are raised on fish and potatoes.

No trees are found in the immediate area. Small stunted trees are found in the mountains.

Snow - Oct to May. Mostly in Dec-Jan. Piled as high as 4 m in Jan.

Rain - May to Sep. Almost every day.

Ice - Oct to May, from Dec to Feb the ocean freezes being hard enough to be walked on as much as 4 km out to sea.

Transportation: PW heard that there was a trail between NIKAYAN and PETROPAVLOSK but no truck can use it. Traffic between the two points was believed to be on horses and dog slods.

Fix of six trucks were at the #3 Factory Hq area. Hq permanent roads were seen between the factories. Transportation over land was not possible to the #5 and #1 factory which was 12 km and 15 km away respectively. Boats were used, either on the ocean or on the stream.

There was a telephone line between MIKAYAN and PETROPAVLOVSK but details are unknown. The line was only seen in the #3 Factory area Hq. Telephone was between the various factories. Radio communication of some sort being carried on as 15 m towers were found in the Hq area.

MIKAYAN population was unknown. Race was Russian 70%, Korean 30%. Russian male 40%, Russian female 60%. Most Russian women were single. Many Russian men brought wives.

Korean male 80%, Korean female 20%. Most Korean males were single. Many Korean females were dependents.

Labor force: Total Korean (Male) - 300

Total Russian (Male) - 200

Total female (Korean & Russian) - 600 (Mostly Russian)

1,100 Total

In Aug-Sep when the yellowfish is caught work is done day and night on 12 hr shifts and everyone works. About 300 soldiers came to this factory from a nearby unit to help out.

Preparation of fish consists in cleaning and salting it. The gut is thrown away into the sea. Salt is found piled up on the beach and is brought from VLADIVOSTOK.

Approx 100 fishermen were working for #2 Factory. Fishing was done by nets and strung 100 m from shore. Nets were pulled up once in the morning and again in the evening. 10 flat boats pulled by small tug boats were used to transport the catch. Boats did not have to go beyond the 100 m area as fish was plentiful. During the yellowfish season (Aug-Sep) nets were placed on the small streams which emptied into the ocean as they would come swimming upstream.

Wooden boxes 36” x 24” x 10” were made here with lumber brought here from PETROPAVLOSK by freighter. Total weight was 70 kg. A slightly smaller box of 60 km was also made. Each box was marked with the factory number, type of fish, weight and destination. Most of the boxes were destined for MOSCOW and UKRAINA (No city named). Some went to all the other major cities in USSR. MIKAYAN #2 factory was written on the top. “CCCP” was found stamped all over the box.

When a freighter came in, the boxes were loaded onto the flat boats and pulled to the ship anchored 1,000 m from shore. The shore was sandy and gradual and there was no pier. When the weather was rough, the flat boats were brought upstream in the small river and loaded there. It took about three days and nights to fill up one ship. When freighter came in, one of the factories would be alerted and this factory was the only one to ship the fish on the freighter. Sufficient amount of fish was found here to completely fill one ship and still some left over. Some fish have been pulled on the beach as long as 2-3 years, boxed and unboxed, awaiting shipment. No damage was noted by the delay.

There were two huge canneries of wood with galvanized iron gabled roofs. Tins ranging in size from 2½ inches in diameter, 2 inches high to 2½ inches in diameter, 6 inches high were used. Tins used were those brought here by the Japanese. This plant way also constructed by the Japanese some time ago. Production rate is unknown, no labels were posted on the tins. These were put in boxes 18 inches x 18 inches x 12 inches high. Boxes were marked with MIKIYAN #3 Factory, type of fish and destination. PW heard that most of the canned goods went to MOSCOW. Each box weighed about 20 kg.

Once in Oct 48 a US freighter came here and took aboard boxes of canned fish. When this ship (about 6,000 tons) anchored here, the factory chief and some officials boarded the freighter. No Koreans were used to load the boxes on that ship. To create a good impression all the workers coming into contact with the Americans were issued new clothing and shoes. The freighters stayed about 5 days but no Americans came ashore. PW heard that this ship also went to other fishing factories in KANCAHTKA including PETROPAVLOSK.

Production: Each fish factory was a complete unit and production varied but each factory produced according to its size.

Estimated size:

#2 Salting factory - 240,000 sq ft

#1 Salting factory - 180,000 sq ft

#9 Salting factory - 120,000 sq ft

#4 Salting factory - 300,000 sq ft

#5 Salting factory - 300,000 sq ft

Total area of #3 factory, including a salting factory and two canneries in 600,000 sq ft.

Each factory area had a T/E power plant which used coal.

Each factory area had barracks to house the bachelors and small individual homes for families.

A grammar school was located in the #3 factory area. A few hundred students from the #4, 3, 2 and 9 factories attended this school. Where children of the #1 and 5 factories went was unknown.

There was a wooden structure, 50 m x 20 m to furnish steam for the cannery. Interior details unknown. T/S power plant steam from this boiler was used to power the power plant. Coal was brought here on freighters from the mainland. A dozen shiploads of coal are brought during the summer and this is to last through the year.

This area covered a 180,000 sq ft area surrounded by a barbed wire fence. Most of the food is brought in during the summer months piled on the ground as high as 20 m and covered with canvas. Most of the foodstuff here is flour for black-bread. Rice, sugar, etc, are put in warehouses. Location is unknown. No vegetables or meat are used here. No clothing. Rations are distributed to the various factories for distribution.

Located about 10 km NE of the #3 factory area. In Aug 48 about 1,000 soldiers came from this unit to help tin the fish factory. Whether the unit was of this size all the time was unknow. Soldiers wore red epaulets. PW heard that a two-star general, red stripe down trouser legs, was seen here. Hq for the MVD and MP were located at this military unit. Located at the base of the mountain range about 20 km NW of #3 factory area was another military unit. PW has never seen this place but heard that a huge permanent camp was found here. Area was not swampy. PW states that military units are found all over the KAMCHATKA Area.

Located about 10 km NE of the #3 Factory area near the military unit area. PW has never seen the field but saw the planes land in the general area. No air activities are noted during the winters. A twin-engined transport travels between MIKAYAN and PETROPAVLOVSK carrying officials and sick patients. YAK fighters are seen periodically but they do not seem to be stationed here. No seaplanes were seen here. No coast guard noted.

PW learned about the needs for fishermen in RUSSIA through an advertisement in the newspaper. The advertisement was inserted by a Soviet commission from KHAABAROVSK. It (adv) stated the fishermen were needed and that they would have a choice of place to work including SAKHALIN, VLADIVOSTOK and KANCHATKA.

PW applied for work stating that he would like to go to VLADIVOSTOK. PW was assigned a number 19, 719 and sent to the barracks of the HUNGNAM Company (興南會社) which was not filled at this time. PW waited here about two months. PW received 6,000 yen in advance for signing a one-year contract. Those signing longer contracts got more money.

PW left for KANCHATKA on Jul 47. PW did not know he was going to KANCHATIKA until the ship went beyond SAKHALIN. A total of 1,300 Korean including 3 to 400 female and 50 children went. Half of the females were single and ages ranged from 18 to 45 years. Everyone was given a health examination before they left. No ■…■ths on the trip.

About 90% of the Koreans left the factory when the contract time was filled. In Nov 48 PW boarded ship for home. During the 15 months PW was at MIKAYAN, PW received 7,000 rubles which was spent in food which cost about 500 rubles per month. PW had to pay back the 6,000 yen which was advanced to him.

PW had 6,800 yen credited to him on Nov 48 which was to be paid to him at KOREA. When PW went to PETROPAVLOVSK he had 2.80 ruble which was changed to ￥11.20. Because food to be eaten on the ship had to be taken by the passenger (food was furnished when coming to KANCHATKA) PW had to sell his clothing to keep from starving.

1,800 men, women and children were packed into the ship for the return trip. Due to shortage of water, it was rationed to one cupful per day, or until the limited tankful was gone. Many often went without water. PW knew of 14 deaths. The dead were dumped into the sea. No medical facilities available. Upon reaching HUNGNAM PW was again sent to the HUNGNAM Company (興南會社) barracks where they were vaccinated and bathing facilities were available. Receipt given PW by the Russian crediting him with ￥6,800 was presented to the Korean government but they didn’t know anything about it. No one got paid here at all.

Many Japanese from MANCHURIA and KOREA went to KANCHATKA in 1946 in addition to the Koreans. Most of the 1947, 1948 contract laborers were Koreans. PW saw newspaper advertisements in 1949 but does not know if many went. PW heard that the 1950 group was form MANCHURIA. PW estimated that 100,000 Koreans had gone through 1947.

1. No 1 Factory (180,000 sq ft area)

2. No 2 Factory (240,000 sq ft area)

3. No 3 Factory

4. No 4 Factory (300,000 sq ft area)

5. No 5 Factory (300,000 sq ft area)

6. Boiler room

7. Repair shop

8. Beacon light

9. No 9 Factory (120,000 sq ft area)

10. Cannery

11. Cannery

12. Food storage area

13. Ice warehouse

14. Home office

15. School

16. Signal towers

17. Military unit

18. Airfield

19. Permanent military camp

For the Commding Officer:

SKETCH B MANCHATKA OBS. JUL 47 - NOV 48

Hq Fishing Bureau KANCHATKA Area

Hq Fishing Factories

Place names are as given phonetically by PW

Locations are only approximate

HQ For Far Fast Fishing Bureau is in KHABAKOVSK

SKETCH B MIKAYAM (COOKD UK) JUL 47 - NOV 48 SEE LEGENT