Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-10-08

charge of the schools for the education of native
children in Alaska and Of the support and medical
relief Of natives of Alaska; supervises the rein
deer industry in Alaska" The bureau of biological
survey of the Department of Agriculture studies
the diseases to which fur bearers are subject in
captivity investigates Alaskan reindeer manage
ment, and administers federal laws relating
to Alaskan land fur-bearing animals
Alaska has large herds of wild caribou. Rein
deer and caribou practically the same animal,
the reindeer being the domesticated caribou. Rein
deer grazing in Norway Sweden, Finland, Russia
and Siberia dates far back In history and is of
considerable economic Importance.
Up to 1891 Alaska had reindeer. That year
ten reindeer were brought In from eastern Siberia
and in 1892 were imported I'll. Total importations
of 1880 were made up to 1902. These importations
were made by the United States bureau of educa-
ton the Initiative of Sheldon Jackson in order
to provide means of livelihood for the Eskimos,
whose hunting resources had been much decreased.
The original or mother" herd was established at
Teller, on Seward peninsuAa (see map).
Alaska conditions proved SO favorable to the
1890 imported animals that the increase has been
extraordinary. Nobody seems to be able to fix
their numbers now, but in 1922 the estimates were
between 100000 and 100000, with an estimate of
100000 killed for food and clothing Moreover the
Alaskan reindeer is much larger than the reindeer
of Norway
Lapp herders brought from Norway 10 In
Of the increase For long time the Eskimo and
Laplanders were the only owners of reindeer
Gradually the Laplanders have sold their holdings
Now onefourth or more of the reindeer are under
white ownership. One company in Nome is said TO
own more than $4,000 1t is through this white
ownership that beginning has been made to put
ting the industry on commercial basis Several
refrigerating plants have been established Ship
ments of carcasses have been to the United
States. The meat has been received with favor
and has brought good prices.
The reindeer herds of Alaska now number in
excess of 100, widely distributed from Point Bar
to the Aleutian islands The map shows the
areas occupied by reindeer areas suitable
for grazing and not yet occupied, and the main
range reserve for caribou. The ownership by the
federal government and various missions has
practically terminated. There are more than 1900
Eskimo owners whose herds range in size from a
few head to 1000 animals The growth Of the
reindeer industry for the twenty years between
1902. and 1921 shows an annual net increase of
about 81 per cent-33 per cent gross increase TAX
ing into consideration the slaughtered stock. The
average fawn crop runs between 30 and 60 per
cent the average prolifcacy of reindeer is 20 per
cent. The fawns run about ffty-ffty as to sex.
The annual loss in adults is about 6.5 per cent and
in fawns about 15 per cent.
Ownership in reindeer is commonly indicated by
earmarking. Each owner has different ear-mark
and often each member of an Eskimo family has
his individual mark. Bartering and trading of deer
among the natives is so common that often the
ears are nearly cut away Nevertheless, the facil-
ity with which an owner will pick out his deer is
uncanny and there surprisingly few disputes
as to ownership Branding has been in dsfavor.
1t has to be very carefully done the reindeer has
thin and soft skin. In the cooperative system
of herding favored by the bureau of education
each herd will be under a single brand, in which
the owner has percentage holding based on the
number of his does
The Alaska reindeer is an interesting animal.
Both bucks and does have horns-and big ones,
thereby differing from other members Of the deer
family. The head and legs are dark in color; the
neck and shoulders grayish white, with darker
sides and hindquarters; the muzzle, and
strips down the back Of the hind legs are white.
There are also spotted and white reindeer The
white ones are inferior physically, but the Eskimo
breed them because they like spotted and white
skins for clothing; moreover the white animals
be seen at a long distance in the summer and
help in the herding. well-grown adult
stands about 10 hands, high and is about feet
from nose to tip Of tail.
Reindeer flock together like Sheep but Craze