The Lamar register., 1904-01-27
REINDEER IN ALASKA
numsER OVER SIX THOUSAND

Sinrock Mary, Known as the Reindeer
oueen-Fortunes Awaiting Syste-
matte Herders-lncrease During the
Past Eleven Years.
Palagai Makrioff Antesilook. known
to the whites as Sinrock Mary, the
Reindeer Queen of Alaska, has given
to the commercially inclined hint of
the great profit which could be made
by the systematic handling of large
herds of reindeer. Taking the rein
deer which her husband, Sinrock Char
lie left at his death. she has increased
their number to more than 400, a
source of large income. each of the
animals readily selling in this market
at from $50 to $40.
What she has done with n small
band OF native herders. without any
special study of the subject. and with
no effort at system. indicates what
fortune awaits the man who takes up
reindeer herding, the only live stock
industry that is possible in northwest
ern Alaska.
The reindeer alive is useful either for
packing or draught purposes. He VIII
handily carry on his back from 100 to
$50 pounds or draw on a sled from 200
to 800 pounds From the reindeer is
also secured an excellent quality of
milk, from which the natives make but
ter and cheese.
The reindeer dead is even more valu-
able. 1t Is the testimony of epicures
that the sweetest porterhouse steak to
be found anywhere is cut from the
reindeer. Almost every part of the an
imal's body is useful for something, In
fact 1t is well known to those ac-
quainted with native herders that they
hi # ell
flesh, sinew. bone and intestine.
II was eleven years ago mat br.
Sheldon Jackson. general agent of edu-
cation in Alaska, began the work OF
bringing from Siberia to Alaska these
animals of such value for food. cloth
ing and transportation. Considering
the fact that the first herd of large size
was brought across the straits in 1891,
the growth of the number to more than
5000 is regarded by government REIN
deer experts as highly satisfactory. The
expense involved has up to date
amounted in round figures to SlS5.ooo'
trihe more than So for each rein
deer
Al the present time all OF the rein
deer herds are in the hands of Eski-
mo. some forty of them being engaged
in The work of directing the herderS In
immediate charge of the animals HaV-
ing originally designed reindeer nerd
ing as an occupation for those natives
whose fishing and hunting was raining
10 give them a livelihood. the govern
ment arranged that each herder should
serve an apprenticeship of five years
fifty deer being turned over to each, TO
become his property in fee simple at
the end of ten years.
The large herds are nine in number
At
wales. Port Clarence. Golovin, Sin
rock. Point Hope Point Barrow. ST.
Lawrence island, unalakleet and cape
Blossom. A fairly successful effort
was made in 1900 to cross the deer pre-
yiously brought over. with the Tunguse
deer, Lieutenant l.. p. BarthoN having
bought for s13.12Ia each, 42S of the lat
ter and shipped them to this country.
They were however. carried n long dis
tance in close confinement, and Ia oil
them died on the way.
A serious feature of the reindeer
question has arisen the past year. the
Russian government having issued
u,lase to the effect that no more rein
deer be either sold or given to anybody
to be transported out of the country.
The plea is made that the sales had he
come so large that they were depriying
The Siberian natives Of a means of
livelihood. This puts 1t up to the
Alaska reindeer owners to kill as few
as possible of the reindeer for three or
four years. particularly females, to the
end that the herds now here may be
considerably increased. Nome News.