Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-11-07
HERD OFREZNDEER


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. The Lapp
herders are not interested in the ex.
tension Of the reindeer among the ma,
tives. Some Of the largest owners OF
deer are Laps. some half a dozen
OF these men having accumulated
herds Of from five to nearly eight hun.
dred. In introducing the reindeer as
means to promote the industrial
life and to provide permanent live
lihood for the Eskimo, 1t has been
found necessary by the government to
put the young natives through
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 dee,
little aluminium button is fastened
securely, and all private owners and
herders have 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.
tees are instructed in keeping &C.
counts. the methods of marketing rein.
danr IN
connected with the industry. No ap-
prentice can become 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
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 herd which will afford and
assure 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
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 watertght
compartments. These are filed with
air and their walls are so elastic and
at the same time of such strong resis-
lance 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 it happens
that 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.