American & Russian Submarines

German fisherman was at the sea with a small boat. After some time American submarine surfaced near him.
The captain asked the fisherman: “Which way is Alaska?”
The fisherman points his finger: “That way!”
“Thanks!” says the American, shouts “South-South-East, bearing 159.5 degrees!” down the hatch and the submarine submerges.
Ten minutes later a Soviet submarine emerges. The Russian captain opens the hatch and asks the fisherman: “Where did the American submarine go?”
The fisherman replies: “South-South-East bearing 159.5 degrees!”
“What?”, asked Russian captain.
“I said, they went to South-South-East bearing 159.5 degrees!”
“What did you mean of that? You’d better show us the direction with your finger, if
you don’t want us to sink you!”