The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-06-02

| up the salt deposited by the ocean
waters. The Lapps have saying
that mosquitoes make the best herd
ers In summer time"
1t is believed, however, that II salt
can be supplied In sufficient quantity
inland, and II 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
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 I'm recent years to care for
the industry, instruct herders, and
administer general supervision over
herds which, cover a 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 a 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 10 pro-
tect the Eskimo, rule has been es-
tabllshed 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 500 was made
In 1908. During that year 500 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 Its flavor. II has been aptly
described as having the juicIness OF
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 1t is kept In cold
storage until sold for food.
Female deer are seldom killed. OF
the males certain number are set
aside for breeding purposes and the
rest are fattened as steers. The ay.
erage life OF deer is about IS 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
TO the nomad OF the southern desert.
Like unto its southern brother" that
lives on It's hump" the reindeer
draws ON its supply Of fat in times
OF want For long-distance travel Che
Eskimo prefers the reindeer TO dogs
as the former finds It's own feed; not
so the dogs.
Surprising records have been mazda
In long-distance travel aud 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
20 TO 30 miles a day, If the welfare
OF the deer Is considered. Even then
the deer can only be employed con.
tnuously in that fashion for II IN
IL days. While travelling IL has M
chance TO Craze. When comnelled 40
do this at night It loses sleep In
consequence the store OF fat which
encases its body and furnishes re-.
serve food and strength becomes ex.
hausted. "a
ne Eskimo never prods or crowds
the deer after It indicates its desire
to quit the Journey. He unharnesses
II ana leaves II to find It's way back
10 Its herd, which II usually succeeds
IN doing. If 1t does not succeed m
thls, II Is likely to join another herd
The ownership Of reindeer is jndj
ea'ed ny 0r-marks, by marking m.
ears q e reindeer Of tie varlnus herd
are distinguished, and annrully ther
Is general uassignmenl OF anlma
10 tLc'r owprls