The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-06-02

up the salt deposited by the ocean
waters. The Lapps have a saying
that mosquitoes make the best herd
ers in summer time"
1t is believed, however, that If salt
can be supplied in sufficient quantity
inland, and If the deer can be taken
to the hills, where land breezes will
serve the same purpose as the sea
winds in blowing away the mosqui
toes, the animals can be persuaded
to overcome their inbred instinct for
a seaside excursion in summer.
Eskimos Own Most of Them.
Eskimos own approximately 20 per
cent of all the deer in Alaska, and
the bureau of education has been
much handicapped by the smallness
of the $1,000 annual appropriation
granted in recent years to care for
the industry, instruct herders, and
administer general supervision over
herds which cover stretch of ter
ritory more than thousand miles in
extent.
OF late years the industry has been
taken up by number of white men
as private enterprise. No objection
to their entering the reindeer field
has been raised on the part of gov
eminent officials, as the development
of outside markets for reindeer meat,
skins, and by-products will thereby
be promoted; but, in order to pro-
tect the Eskimo, rule has been es-
tablished that female deer may not
be purchased from the natives.
A number of Lapps, originally en-
ployed by the government to teach the
Eskimos the occupation of herding,
were permitted to borrow not to ex-
coed 100 deer each. In five years
they were to return a like number,
keeping the increase. From one such
loan In 1901 count of 800 was made
in 1908. During that year 800 animals
were equally divided into two herds,
one of which now numbers not less
than 10000.
The meat of the dear is not "gamy"
and yet there is a suggestion of ven
ison in it's flavor. 1t has been aptly
beef and the delicacy and tenderness
of venison. The animal is butchered
by modern methods after which the
carcass Is frozen with the hide on
and shipped to distributing points In
the states, principally Seattle and
Minneapolis. There it is kept in cold
storage until sold for food.
1a
the males a certain number are set
aside for breeding purposes and the
rest are fattened as steers. The av-
erage life of deer is about 10 years,
but steers are butchered when three
years old.
Camel Of the Arctic Region.
The reindeer has been called the
camel of the Far North. 1t serves as
a beast of burden, and is to the no
mad of the north what the camel Is
10 the nomad of the southern desert.
Like unto its southern brother" that
''lives on its hump" the reindeer
draws on its supply of fat in times
of want. For long-distance travel the
Eskimo prefers the reindeer to dogs,
as the former finds it's own feed; not
so the dogs.
Surprising records have been made
in long distance travel and also In
speed tests. Indeed, for short dis
tances. the deer can outrun the dog
or horse.
The usual rate Of travel on long
distance excursions should be from
25 to 80 miles a day, II the welfare
of the deer Is considered. Even then
the deer can only be employed con-
tinuously in that fashion for 10 to
j days. While travelling 1t has no
chance to Craze. When compelled to
do this at night II loses sleep. In
consequence the store of fat which
encases Its body and furnishes re-
serve food and strength becomes ex-
hausted.
The Eskimo never prods or crowds
the deer after 1t indicates its desire
to quit the journey. He unharnesses
II and leaves 1t to find Its way back
to Its herd, which 1t usually succeeds
In doing. II 1t does not succeed In
this. 1t is likely to join another herd.
The ownership Of reindeer is indi-
Gated by ear-marks. BY marking the
ears the reindeer Of the various herds
are distinguished, and annually there
is a general reassignment of enimals
to their owners