The cross sections for the reactions O16(γ, n)O15 and N14(γ, n)N13 have been determined by measurement of the induced positron activities. The oxygen cross-section curve has a slowly increasing initial portion after which it rises rapidly to a maximum peak cross section of 11.4 millibarns at 24.0 Mev. The nitrogen cross-section curve has an initial peak at about 13 Mev. Above 17 Mev., this curve increases sharply to a maximum value of 2.84 millibarns at 24 Mev. In order to explain the shape of the nitrogen curve, a relative total neutron yield curve has been determined from 12 to 20 Mev. by detecting the emitted neutrons with a rhodium foil. This neutron yield curve has the same shape as the nitrogen saturated specific activity curve. The anomalous shapes of the nitrogen and oxygen cross-section curves are explained in terms of the variation of gamma-ray absorption with energy.