The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-03-12
Reindeer Steak May Be
 Used To Lower H. q. |.

ed averaged $s for each reindeer ob~ tafned.
 In the light of subsequent devel- opments it would seem as though the bureau of education, through pr. Jackson, had driven a bargain that some day might eclipse that famous purchase of Manhatten Island from the Indians for two ten-dollar bills.
 On account of the absence of docks or harbors on the Siberian Coast, it was a most difficult proposition to get the reindeer aboard the vessel. It was necessary to anchor the cutter sev- eral miles out from shore and take the animals out to it in a small, flat boat. But in order to this it was, of course, necessary to first catch MT. Reindeer.
 This required the services of an experienced man with a lasso. After being lasSoed, the feet were then hog tied in the same manner that cow boys tie cattle when the branding iron is applied. It was then an easy mat ter for a couple of husky natives to place the animals aboard the boat.
 Up to the present time the United States government has invested $317,- 900 in the reindeer business in Alas ka. Dividends aggregating 926 per cent have been netted on this invest ment. The total valuation and in- come from reindeer is $3,247, ,345, leaving a net profit of s2,93O,345, after the Bureau deducts its total in- vestment of $317,000.
 The thousands of people who are i trying to get rich in the oil fields of Texas might do better by trying the reindeer business in Alaska. The original Ohiect of = ton was to furnish a permanent source of supply for food and cloth ing for the nomadic hunters and fish ermen, in the vicinity of the Behring 1 Strait, who were eking out a precar- 1 ious existence upon the rapidly dis appearing game animals ana nsn. 1 But far more than that has been i accomplished. Within less than a ! generation the reindeer industry has caused all of the Eskimos inhabiting l the vast grazing lands from Point 1 Barrow to the A1eutian Islands to ad- 1 vance through one entire stage o1 civilization. It has raised them from | the primitive to the pastoral stage from nomadic hunters to civilized men and women, having in their hero | of reindeer assured support for them. selves and opportunity to accumulate 1 wealth.
 The reindeer is essentially an inhab ! itant of snowy countries, feeding or 1 lichens or moss, mushrooms, gras | and willow sprouts, which grow ever on the poorest soils.
 It never makes any difference t | the reindeer how much snow may b. on the ground. Whenever his ap petite begins to assert itself he merel, l drops aside from the beaten path an,
 paws down through the snow unti
 the appetizing moss is found.
 The coming of the reindeer to Alas
 ka has developed a new and eXcitin
 sport among the natives. It is rein
 deer racing. Sleek limbed animal
 are petted and tenderly cared fo
 just as thoroughbred Kentucy horse
 are looked after in the old states. Tn
 public races are staged at the annua
 country fairs, and give the owner
 something to look forward to fo
 months.
 It is rather amusing to realize tha l just as horse racing is being outlawe
 from most of the states, reindeer rac ling is coming into it's own in flask;