Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-09-23
DOGS IN ALASKA.
The Animals Are Important Factors
i'm the Gold Fields of the Yukon.

The Animals Are Important Factors
in the Gold Fields of the Yukon.
The native Yukon dog is much more
valuable than the importations from
Puget sound, says a Tacoma corre-
spondent in an article about dogs In
the northern gold fields. The dogs
must be accljmated in order to stand
the seventies of the winter. 1t is found
that dogs taken from Montana and
Dakota endure the Yukon winters with
less suffering than those bred In the
milder climate of Puget sound. Two
splendid specimens of native Alaska
dogs were brought here few days ago,
their owner finding it cheaper to pay
their passage on the steamer than to
have them boarded at Dyea during his
trip here for supplies. The animals
weigh, one So and the other IS pounds.
The larger one cost its owner Silt at
Circle City. 1t is a cross between dog
belonging to family of missionaries
that went to the Yukon years ago and
one that hailed from the shores of the
Mackenzie river. Both animals arc
stout, well proportional and muscled,
and have exceptionally short and heavy
necks. Their ears are short and lifted
like those of the Eskimo dog. Their
coats are dark, and the hair, while not
close, is smooth and heavy enough to
form a comfortable protection against
the Arctic winters and the Yukon mos
cuitoes, by the side of which the
ferocity of the New Jersey variety
pales into insignifcance. A specially
prepared dog food made out of meal
and coarse meat from the packing
houses is now being manufactured In
the form of cracker and seems likely
to come into general use.
Buckskin moccasins are provided by
many owners to keep the feet of the
animals from being worn raw ON the
ice and snow. They are about nine
inches long and made much after the
pattern of a child's stocking. Pack sad
dies are also coming into use this
spring. These are so arranged that dogs
can carry weight of from ten to twen-
ty pounds besides drawing sled. The
saddlebags fall on either side, and
straps are arranged to prevent the pack
from sliding forward or backward.
A Tacoma dealer has built up "A large
business in the manufacture of dog
harness. A suit of harness usually
weighs 21R pounds. The collar is made
to slip over the dogs head. obviating the
necessity of buckling it abou. the ami
mails neck when the drivers hands are
cold and numb. The collar is made of
leather faced with sheepskin and
stuffed with deer hair. The names are
inclosed in the collar, and attached to
them are buckles for fastening the
traces. On each collar are placed rings
to which the traces of dog in the lead
may be attached, making it easy TO
drive teams in tandem. Traces in the
harness for native dogs are made of
heavy web material, because the dogs
eat the leather harness. They devour
the collars on sight if permitted to do
so. This peculiar craving makes it nee
essary to keep the animals separated
when harnessed, so that they shall not
masticate one another's collars When
the web traces become oily the dogs
chew even them, and it is only a matter
of time when the web trappings become
food for the hungry creatures.-N. Y.
SUM-