Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-07-14
Alaskan Herder With Reindeer.

up the salt deposited by the ocear
waters. The Laps have a sayin,
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 70 per
cent of all the deer In Alaska and
the bureau of education has been
much handicapped by the smallness
OF The $4,000 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.
Or 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 to pro-
tect the Eskimo, a rule has been es-
tablished that female deer may not
be purchased from the natives.
A number of Lapps, originally en-
oloyed by the government to teach the |
the occupation Of herdIng,
we're permitted to borrow not to ex-
ICED 100 deer each. In five years
hey were to return like number,
-eeping the increase. From one such
Dan In 1901 count of 800 was made
1908. During that year 300 animals
'ere equally divided into two herds,
ne of which now numbers not less
nan 10000.
The meat Of the dear Is not "gamy"
nd yet there is suggestion of ven
on In its flavor. 1t has been aptIy
escrlbed as having the julciness of
eef and the delicacy and tenderness ;
yenison. The animal is butchered
modern methods after which the I
rcass is frozen with the hide on {
I'd shipped to distributing points in t
e states, principally Seattle and
lnneapolis. There 1t is kept in cold
orage until sold for food.
Female deer are seldom killed. OF q
males certain number are set y
Ide for breeding purposes and the n
81 are fattened as steers. The av- Il
age life of deer is about Is years. p
steers are butchered when three So
hrs old. I'll
Camel Of the Arctic Region. -
The reindeer has been called the II
mel of the Far North. 1t serves as r
)east of burden, and is to the no G,
d of the north what the camel is
the nomad of the southern desert. OF
e unto its southern brother" that in
'es on its hump" the reindeer Sc
WIS ON its supply of fat In times ~,
want. For long-distance travel the -. 1r
lm0 prefers the reindeer to dogs. co.
he former finds Its own feed: not ms
the dogs. ma
uprising records have been made
long-distance travel and also In sal
ID tests. Indeed, for short dis ~.
es the deer can outrun the dog
Orse.
ne usual rate Of travel on long
'nce excursions should be from Id
o 80 miles a day, IL the welfare
he deer Is considered. Even then Res
deer can only be employed con- Ora
'usly in that fashion for is to
lays. While travelling II has no
ce to Craze. When compelled to
his at night it loses sleep. In A
'quence the store of fat which cor
ses its body and furnishes re- SAID
FOOD and strength becomes ex- g
ed. huh
( Eskimo never prods or crowds g,
leer after 1t indicates its desire repl
it the journey. He unharnesses II
q leaves IL to find its wav hack than
nerd which 1t usually succeeds n
ing. II 1t does not succeed In lord
II is likely to join another herd your
ownership of reindeer is indi. II
by ear-marks. BY marking the and
ne reindeer Of the various herds ~
istinguished, and annually there are .
general reassignment Of animals IN
ir owners. the I