El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-12-16

strait. While there ne was engaged in
teaching the Eskimos. and had con-
ceived the idea of introducing reindeer
TO help them. He proposed TO bring
deer across the strait from Siberia at
about the same time that DR.. Sheldon
Jackson brought his first deer 10 the
Aleutisn islands
Natives Have to BE Taught.
Mr.. Lopp tells me that the govern
ment had great trouble in teaching
berians were imported for this purpose.
but they did not succeed. and II was
not until Mr.. Lopp took the YOUNG
Eskimos and trained them that they
were able 10 make much progress. To-
day the Eskimos have learned all about
the deer They are expert in breeding
them and caring for them They have
large herds. single men owning as
many as 1900 reindeer One such might
be called the Eskimo reindeer king.
lie is one Of the men who accompanied
Mr. Lopp in his rescue OF the Whalers.
His deer are worth $4,000.
said Mr.. LOpp TO me; Deer herding
can be learned AS easily as sheep herd
ing. and the Eskimo boys readily take
to the business. Six OF eight herders
can take care care Of 1000 head of deer
The animals have 20 ne driven about
20 where the moss patches are. and
watched less they stray too far away.
The herders live in tents. or temporary
huts. IN the winter the deer are liable
TO stray several miles from camp. and
the boys go out in the morning 70 round
them up Some Of the animals have
bells on them
asked sIr Lopp as to the value OF
The reindeer for carrying freight and
passengers. referring 10 the fact that
The government once expected 10 use
them in transporting the Alaskan
mails
re replied: such statements have
been made. but they have not been
successful Many of the stories that
have been published as to the speed
OF the reindeer are untrue. The ordi-
nary deer cannot go more than 40 miles
day. and it cannot make more than
- miles a day on long journeys The
reindeer is not hardy, and five o. SIX
days is as long as one should be driven
a. a time.
The trouble is that the deer has 20
get its own food on the way. II lives
upon moss. the nutrltive qualities OF
which are not as great as those OF hay.
You would not expect 20 drive a horse
q long distance on hay. and YOU cannot
drive p reindeer a long distance on
moss. especially If II has TO travel all
dav and hunt fo- its moss at night. As
II Is now. il is only in the coolest parts
Of Alaska that reindeer are used as
teams. and there by the EskimOs only.
The usual sled load = about 500
pounds. although as much IS 1909
pounds has been carried by a single
deer. Most Of the frsighting is still
done By dogs"
Reindeer Fairs Held.
The most interesting news relating .
TO the reindeer industry OF Alaska" /
ing tine two reindeer fairs recently es-
tahlisned a a regular thing in differ /
Ont parts Of the country one Of these
IS annually held al Akiak- on the Upper +
kuskOkwim river. and the other ut /
liarys IElOo. on the Seward peninsula P
These fairs are like the great stock .
-noWs or the United States. but their
stock is reindeer. The Eskimos bring .
heir deer i'm from many miles around. /
They compete as 20 the finest OF the
ANNALS. and also as 10 such matters as
i ssoing. butcherinE. driving. feeding ,
and nerning They have races OF many
aincs. and also prizes for the best kind I
% harness. slcds and fur clothing The
prizes arr contributed by the merchants
pr Nome. Seattle and elsewhere. The
fairs last for several DAYS They are
he @Tear events Of the Eskimo year !
Since this talk with Mr.. Lopp I have
earned more about these reindeer fairs
They arc doing wonders in the de-el-
,pWent of tho EsSirlcs- The Marys
g'Oo fair was he.d last winter. Thou
'araS of ESlSig.uS were present. and
here were burden aces sled races.
81 -Soiu- oInpa titioIS and wild deer I
NY II and lasted several days. Part Of
he time the thermometer was s. dc
rees below zero The people slept on
he snow I'm tents. without fire. and ali
-ere comfortable in their sleeping bags
" reindeer skin. The first event WIS
he butcheriag of deer by three differ
Mt methods. and a discussion as to the
.est- In this contest. two Esklmos
rove their knife TO the heart at one
low Another severed the jugula- vein )
Z the first stroke
The wild deer driving contest had
s entries. and each Of the contestants
ed 10 enter a herd. and rome. throw.
aTneSs. hitch IN and drive A hOrnleSs 3
ull one-half mile 20 the river and re-
urn lie had then to unhitch. unhar-
ess and remove the halter. all unss-
listed
In addition TO the above contests
here were forr-deer races. two-deer I
aces. sled races and an II mile race
% the two-deer race ten teams ran u
liles in less than 80 minutes, and in
ne four-deer race the distance was
i've miles and the time less than Il
linutes.
And then there vas 81 fur clothing
Shi1it. In which the five best suits
ladc Of reindeer skin received prizes,
nd there were sled making and sled
ishing contests.
Altogether these fairs are proving a
reat success. and they promise to in ,
-ease in interest and profit as the
ears go on.