The Ordway new era., 1912-03-29

years from the government, and give
their services as instructors for that
period. At the end OF five years the
Lapp returns the 100 deer and be-
comes an Independent herder himself
with the large increase Of reindeer he
has obtained from the herd. Tho Lapp
herders are not Interested In the ex-
tension Of the reindeer among the na-
tives. Some OF the largest owners of
deer are Lapps. some half dozen
Of these men having accumulated
herds Of from five to nearly eight hun
dred. In Introducing the reindeer as
means to promote tho Industrial
life and to provide a permanent live.
lihood for the Eskimo. 1t has been
found necessary by the government to
put tho young natives through
course OF training. Those who get
their deer directly from the govern
ment. serve an apprenticeship OF Ave
years.
Mark to Designate.
In the ear Of each government deer
little aluminium button Ia fastened
securely. and all private owners and
herders have n mark which must be
registered with the local superinten-
dent Of the reindeer station and also
at Washington. Besides being taught
the art Of deermanship. the appren-
tces are instructed in keeping &C.
counts. the methods OF marketing rein.
deer. and in other practical matters
connected with the industry. No ap-
prentice can become a herder unless
he Is proficient In the branches Of ele-
mentary reading. arithmetic and writ
Ing. At the end of his apprenticeship
the young Eskimo native Is allotted a
number OF deer by the government,
and with the increase obtained during
the interval OF his five years service,
each apprentice will have. on an aver.
age. herd of so reindeer.
AS this herd will double itself every
three years. the graduate apprentice
will have n herd which will afford and
assure a self-supporting income quite
enough to satisfy the economic wants
of himself and family in the future.
He Is thus established in business by
the government and is given free pas
turage thereafter. The reindeer pro-
duces one fawn in the spring each
year for 10 years. Among the useful
and profitable products of the reindeer
are the skins for clothing. or these
pelts most varied use Is made. From
them are fashioned the tight-fitting
trousers and that wonderful outer gar
ment. the "parka." universally worn in
winter by both male and female ma.
tives and by many whites. The "parka"
extends to the knees and has a close.
fitting hood, which keeps the head and
shoulders comfortably warm even in
the severest weather. These reindeer
garments are remarkable for their ex.
cellent qualities OF resisting moisture
and cold. A close examination of the
hair of the reindeer furnishes an ex.
PLANTATION of its peculiar value The
hair is not merely hollow tubular
structure. with cavity extending
throughout its entire length, but Is di.
vided, or partitioned off. into exceed.
ingly numerous cells. like watertight
compartments. These are filled with
air and their walls are so elastic and
at the same time Of such strong resis.
tance that they are not broken up eth.
er during the process of manufacture
or by swelling when wet. The cells
expand in water and thus 1t happens
that a person completely In garments
made of reindeer wool does not sink
when in water. because he is buoyed
up by the air contained in the hun
dreds Of thousands of hair cells. As
the mineral industry continues to
grow in Alaska the natives and gradu
ate apprentices can earn high wages
as teamsters hauling supplies and fur
nishing fresh reindeer meat to mining
camps in the interior, at points re-
mote from railway and steamboat
transportation.