Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-04-13
AERp oF REZ7Y2EER

URV AE herding and breeding of do
mesticated reindeer. intro
duced as an experiment a
~ number of years ago with anil
mails imported from Siberia
by the government. has now become
the most prominent feature of the In
dustrial education Of the Eskimo and
the main activity OF many native vii
lagos OF Arctic Alaska. writes w. l..
Beasly In Scientific America. The
progress in civilization that has been
made by lifting up the natives former
ly living as savages and eking out
precarious existence by hunting with
s~rr~4s.-..s. ---4s., l~.st..sai than the
through the reindeer industry, is re-
markahle educational achievement,
Tho Alaska Reindeer Service has now
reached its most successful stage, as
Il marks the beginning of the period
of full utilization of all the reindeer
e wned by the government for the bene-
ut Of the native population. AT the
present time there 10 hardly surplus
government reindeer north OF the kus-
kowin river. This has been made pos.
sible by the establishment OF new rein
deer stations. the employment of more
natives as chief herders. by accepting
the largest practical number OF APP
prentices: and by transferring reindeer
TO both chief herders and apprentices.
in lieu of salary or supplies, the chief
aim and fundamental policy OF the
government being to turn the reindeer
over to the natives as rapidly as they
learn the industry and appreciate Its
| value.
| The total number of reindeer in
| Alaska at the last census was nearly
| $4,000 and of this number, over 11,o0c
| are owned by the natives. One OF the
most striking and gratifying features
"A the large income which the natives
derive from the sale of reindeer pro
ducts, their share for the past fisca
year having been $4,000 and over
The amount does not include th'
value of the reindeer skins used TO
clothing. nor that Of the meat con
suufed as food, These material bene
FITS and the very considerable incom
thus derived demonstrates the fac
that the reirdeer industry has becom
one OF tho most prominent factors 4
the economic life OF the Eskimo. TIL
RI total number Of Alaskan reindeer
distributed in herds among 20 stations
IS OF these being owned by the go'
= ernment and 10 by church mission
, The Lapps own over three thousan'
The natives are very anxious to 81
deer. and look upon them as sal
investment for their earnings. an
usually take deer in preference
. cash. for services, when an opportu
: ity is offered The government do'
not sen DEER, this is done by snatiy'
and missions alone. The various mi
d sions are furnished a herd of 100 de-
n on loan for period Of five years
"a the government.
Mission Keeps Increase
At the end of this time the origin
number must be returned. The m
sion keeps the increase of fawr
y which amount to several hundred.
e rived from the government loan. II
Morayian mission of Bethel has one
> the largest herds, nearly three tho,
n and. Other missions having over o
re thousand deer. all in Arctic Alasl
i north of the Yukon. are located
Goiovin. Kotzebue. Shishmaref a
Cape Wales. At Barrow, latitude
deg. rs min. the most northern po
ON the American continent, there ID
IN herd OF 800
ne The total population here Is abe
4oO-men. women and children. Q
native, Takpuk. Is considered the ri
as est man OF that region. as he owni
se herd of 137 reindeer. The missiC
~ support and educate number
Young apprentice herders- The nat
herders also take on apprentices .
award them six deer year in p
ment Tor their services The L
ngi