Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-17
DEER FOR ALASKA
Difficulties in the Way of Transpor-
tation.
VIEWS OF SCIENTIFIC OFFICIALS
Removal of the Horns Considered
Necessary.
PERILS OF y SEA TRIP

Tn War Department sas sent to num-
Der of scientific officials connected with the
government inquiries to the best mode
of taking the 100 reindeer intended for the
KIondike relief expeditions TO Alaska.
Prof. F. W. True OF the National Mu-
scum mas been asked his opinion on the
subject by d representative of the depart
rient- As most of the animals which so
IL TIE museum are received there in the
shan" Of dead bodies the professor. of
course knew nothing about the best means
of caring for the animals until they reach
ed their destination. He referred the rep
resaLtative to the Geological Park. where
they are better acquainted with the ship
ment of live animals. All possible infor-
nation the subject there was given in
regard 70 the reindeer.
There are some specinents of the deer at
the museum. both wild ana domestica ted
AS can be seen from an Investigation of
these the chief trouble in shipping animals
will be their horns. which are large and
which are liable to become entanSled il
they are put together in a car 1t was
thought. however, that the best way TO
ship them would be 10 put them in y box
car after dehorning than. While. of course
this win spoil the beauty of the animals to
some extent. Ii will not affect their utility.
ard Will doubtless prevent them doing Sc
rious injury to another or to their
keepers while making the overland trip
slender and excessively brittle. that the
fear il expressed by those who know of
them that unless the voyage across is eX-
tremely easy they will suffer great injuries
1t is thought that If they can withstand
the voyage across the water half OF the
battle viii he in regard to the rest OF
the nip There are many obstacles. now
ever. 10 be overcome before the deer can
be utilized
DR.. DaIrs View.
DR. w H. Dali of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition. as are most of the scientists in
Washington. is greatly interested in the
outcome of the scheme to take the reindeer
to Alaska. where they will be used for
packing purposes. we'll as for INTRODUCE
tior into that country. He said to Star
reporter this morning, in regard to the
matter:
81 think that the scheme is an excellent
one ana that if it fails of success it will
not be due to the idea SO much to the
manner in which it Is carried out
Everything deDe1 Dis on that The Esiii-
maux unlike the Lapps. by whom the rein
deer ar, raised. are not energetic. and
the question arises in my mind rs 20
wheth r they will give the deer the proper
care and attention which they should have.
Tho L1pgs Of northern Norway are par
ticularlr attentive in regard to the rein
deer. Non are REQUIRED to sit up Mt night
AMI keen watch over the herds to see that
they are not ruoleSted by the wolves or
other wild animals which follow on their
trail.
in Alaska to which the deer are accus-
toned. but Of course ii does not grow in
ell parts. just the same as grass does not
grow in sufficient quantities here to afford
nourishment to animals
The reindeer Cannot he used on the
passes for packing purposes. as sheep or
goat or dog could scarcely get over them:
They may be taken over them, but, OF
coursa they would have to have no bur-
6ens whatever. as it is entirely too steep
The best way to my notion in which to
frNtn h. lD-t TRY
would be- by way of the Dalton trail. which
is longer, but which is easy 1t can be
used for Transporting supplies either by
packing or sledges up and down the Yukon
and for carrying mail sent out that the
deer were to have their native drivers with
them. There is much more knowledge OF
the animal required in driving them than
there Is IN handling horse There is
only 4 string tied to the horn. by which
they are guided, and it requires no little
skill and ability with complete understand
ing of the animal TO make it go where it
is required. / have seen the Asiauc rem
deer used for packing purposes and for
riding by the natives. They have very
weak backs, and in riding them II Is nee
sssary to sit aStride of the shoulders
The only trouble is. l think. that the
department may have gone into the scheme
without sufficiently calculating the obstacles
and difficulties to be encountered, as SO
often happens in such things, and the only
Cause OF failure will be this:
THE reindeer is of the same species as
our caribou. The domestcated deer differ
in color. while the caribou retains one
color all the Tine
What Prof Stejneger Snys.
Prof Ieonhard StejEeger of the National
.Iusem. who was one of the commissioners
10 the Russian sea! islands, is a native of
Norway. where he has seen the homestead
ed reindeer time and time again. He has
seen the reindeer used for Transportation
purposes in his native country and speaks
most interestingly on the subject.
The tame reindeer found principally
in Finmark in the northern part of Nor
way They are used principally by the ma
tives for long transportation in winter be-
tween Norway and Sweden The Laps use
them principally, however. for milk and
meat purposes. In fact, they supply al
most every want which the Firms and
LappS need. They are kept in order by a
species Of dogs, something like sheep are
here by cOllieS. The dog is a long-eared
animal. something like the Esquimau dog.
When it is necessary 10 milk them they
are laSsced over the horns and so detained
until the milking is finished. They ex-
tremeiy fierce during the rutting season
ami must be watched. The dogs, however,
have complete control of them and guide
them wherever it is necessary for them to
60 The sleghs which drawn
by the deer resemble a canoe more than u
sleigh. They are fitted on the bottom with
"a sort Of double Keel. which slides over tn.
snow They are made so that if the deer
while dragging the sleigh becomes angry,
as sometimes happens. and turns on the
driver attempting 10 inpale the latter on
his horns or stamps him with its feet he can
quickly turn the sleigh and shield
himself from the blows of the Infatuated
beast The domesticated deer are much
larger than the Wild ones. Those untamed
probably weigh about 100 pounds, while
the domesticated kind will sometimes
weigh -" pounds.
The Lapp is guided to his habitation
by the existence of pasture for his REIN
deer The moss is exhausted in one local
lty and 1t is necessary for the deer to find
II elsewhere. "A Lapp cannot keep a fam
Ny with less than 500 reindeer. IL the num-
Der drops below this he has To take his
family to the coast and subsist by fishing
IN the summer the reindeer are driven TO
the coast by the mosquitoes, which arise
from the large swamps in the interior OF
the country.
My only fear is that il will not be pos
sibIe To collect enough moss at this time OF
the year on which the animals subsst uu-
III re5iching Alaska. Some of them may be.
drlVen by hunger to eat other foods tina
the moss to which they are accustomed.