Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-04-13

landers take loan of deer for five
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
mas obtained from the herd. The Lapp
herders are not Interested In the az
tension of the reindeer among the ma
lives. 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 int->l,--t--er 49, --t--s--<e--
odd Pr9%9ts pp lie tss faRstTisJ s
put the young natives through a
course of training Those who get
their deer directly from the govern
ment, serve an apprenticeship of five
years.
Mark to Designate.
In the ear of each government deer
little aluminium button is fastened
securely, and all private owners and
herders have a mark which must be
registered with the local superinten-
dent OF the reindeer station and aisoi
at Washington. Besides being, taught
the art of deermanship. the appren-
tices are instructed In keeping ac-
counts. the methods OF marketing rein
deer and in other practical matters
connected with the industry. No ap-
| prentice can lbecome d hefderi unless
! he is proficient in the branches of ele-
mentary reading arithmetic and writ
L A Al - M
the young Eskimo native Is allotted a
number of deer by the government.
and with the increase obtained during
the interval OF his Ave, years service,
each apprentice VIII have, on an aver
age herd of so reindeer.
AS this herd will double itself every
three years, the graduate apprentice
will have a 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 OF 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 hasa close
4 fitting, hood. which keeps the; bead ard
J. shoulders comfortably warm even In
8 the severest weather. ThesetfeindeeI
= garments are remarkable for their ex
r cellent qualities OF resisting moisture
y and cold. A close examination of tn,
hair of the reindeer furnishes an ex
planation OF its peculiar value. TIL,
Il hair is not merely hollow tubula
J. structure, with cavity extending
!. 4 throughout its entire length. but is di
=. yided. or partitioned of. into exceed
. ingly numerous cells. like watertigh
y commandments These are flied witt
{. air and their walls are SO elastic an
"A nj the same time of such strong resis
! tance that they are not broken up eth
n or during the process OF manufactur
"A or NV swelling when wet. The cell
n exnand In water and thus 1t happen
- that a person completely in garment
. made of reindeer wool does not sin
NJ when in water. because he is buoye
nj up by the air contained in the hun
,e dreds of thousands Of hair cells A
n. the mineral industry continues
a grow In Alaska the natives and grad
ns ate apprentices can earn high wage
or as teamsters hauling supplies and fu
We nishing fresh reindeer meat to mimi
nd camps In the interior. at points r
w. mote from railway and steambo'
N transportation.