Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-05

but also the skins. The meat sells for
from 16 to 80 cents a pound, and an
average weight for a buck Is about 800
pounds. The skins are used for cloth
ing and sleeping bags, the skins serving
as q highly priced "parkas'' for winter
wear Mail routes are also covered with
reindeer, the kotzebue- Barrow mail
route being one OF these. The distance
is $50 odd miles. and two trips are made
each winter
These herds are usually kept from ten
to thirty miles behind a village, and in
addition to all their other valuable points
give the added security OF sufficient food
to the village should necessity require it.
There are forty-three herds in as many
villages, with the herds numbering from
200 to 1900 each. The millions and mil
lions OF acres Of moss country In Alaska
as yet unutilized. and which form the
feeding grounds Of reindeer, are sufficient
to support enough reindeer to almost feed
the civilized world. Two or three boys
and as many dogs are able to take care
of herd OF two or three thousand ami
mails.
A unique but satisfactory method has
been devised in the distribution of the
reindeer among the natives. The natives
are being taught to be deer herders.
They must serve a four-year apprentice
ship, their pay being in deer. The first
year they receive six, the second eight.
and each of the last two ten deer. In
this way by the time the four years
have been finished they have a herd of
about fifty deer and are practically self
supporting. The method is an endless
chain Each apprentice has to promise
to take on apprentices as the size of his
herd increases.
Some interesting experiments are being
conducted in connection with the rein
deer. Because their principal food is the
moss which is SO abundant. and which is
not very nutritious, they are not good
for travelling purposes. If a reindeer has
been driven thirty-flve forty miles a
day for six consecutive days he is unfit
for further travel until thoroughly rest
ed. The experiments consist In trying to
teach the animals to eat other food. In
the case of the grown reindeer it was
found hopeless. In one instance shredded
wheat was tried as a substitute for the
moss. the two being similar in looks.
but 1t failed. The young animals, how
ever, can be trained to eat almost any
thing in the way Of cereals and bread
stuffs. and it is hoped that in time their
diet can be made sufficiently nourishing
20 warrant their being practical as sled
animals.
The natives are, of course, good fish
ermen. Both the Eskimos and In
dians, Of which there are about an equal
number In Alaska. perhaps excel in this
Even the women share this ability, and
in large quantities by old native women.
They cut hole in the ice and jerk their
line up and down to prevent its freezing.
After a short time a tomcod Is hooked
the line Is jerked up. the fish removed
and the process begun again.
On the arctic coast and In the rivers in
that section nets and traps are used in
catching the fish by the men. On the
upper Yukon, however. a fish wheel is
used This vince Is both simple and eff
fective 1t consists Of nothing more pre-
tentious than a large paddle wheel ar
rangement. the sections Of which are
covered with wire netting. These. turned
by the current. revolve and literally
scoop up the fish. As the net comes Ilp
the Ash are dumped into a trough and
carried away to boxes.
not inconsiderable revenue Is de-
rived from curing FISH for dog feed. One
dog requires from one and a half to two
pounds of dried fish day. which costs
from to % cents pound, according to
the locality.
Alaska IL q country Of exceptions"
said Mr.. Lopp in connection with the cost