The Nation - News from Jan. 18, 1987

An American ice fisherman entered Soviet territory from Alaska last week and remained in Soviet custody, U.S. officials said. Anita Stockman of the State Department said that the traveler, Lazaro Castro, believed to be from Santa Monica, was not kidnaped and broke no U.S. law, so there was no diplomatic effort being made on his behalf. Castro, said to be in his mid-20s, left his camp and walked 2 1/2 miles across Bering Strait ice from the American island of Little Diomede to Big Diomede, a Soviet military base. Witnesses watching through telescopes said he was seized by soldiers.