The Wrangell sentinel., 1927-02-17
REINDEER MEAT FINDS READY
 MARKET IN NEW YORK

Under the heading. Meat From Alaska, the New York Sun, one of the greatest newspapers of the country. editorially says:
 Reindeer meat from Alaska is on sale in New York markets in more considerable quantities this season than ever before. It was displayed before Thanksgiving, and the demand for it at Washing ton Market and in uptown shops, especially those making feature of game, was sufficient to justify them in continuing to carry it in stock. Reindeer steaks appear on many restaurant and hotel menus ndn reindeer chops 9 cents is one of the unusual signs displayed to New Workers in Washington Mar ket stalls.
 A United States Department of Agriculture bulletin just issued re- fers to the reindeer industry in AL aska as being a comparatively re- cent adventure and a commercial enterprise dating back only few years. From the original stock of 1,280 animals imported from Sibe- ria over a period of ten years pre- ceding 1902 the Alaska reindeer have increased to about 350,000 head. distributed in 10 herds. Most of these are along the coast of Berfng Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Construction of small refrigerating plants in Alaska and shipment ot the meat to the states on cold stor- age boats came with the growth of the industry. From 1918, when the trade had begun to seem firmly es- tablished, until 1925, reindeer meat shipped from Alaska amounted to more than 1,875,000 pounds. The growth in the last three years is shown by the fact that the ship ments of 1923 were 100000 pounds while those of two years later were 680,000 pounds.
 About one-third of the reindeer of Alaska are owned by white men. among whom are numbered several Lapps who brought the first small herds to the Territory. The own CTS of the other two-thirds are Es- kimos. It is through the efforts of white men that the industry has been placed upon a commerclal basis. The native Eskimo rates high in intelligence, but he is not dis tinguished for managerial ability and initiative. To him grazing reindeer is an occupation second- ary to hunting and fishing. If the industry depended upon the unaid- ed efforts of natives it would be limited in scope" says the Depart ment report, for it's development on q large scale "calls not only for capital but for business ability O high order" Carl Lomen, who is reputed to be the largest herder of reindeer in Alaska, has been es- pecially active in putting the indus try on a commercial basis.
 On the range the reindeer close lv resemble cattle. They have their own peculiarities, though, in that they band together as sheep do, and they tramp over the feeding ground much as do herds of wild horses except that they travel against m stead of with the wind. They ma their forage in winter by paving through the snow with their lore feet, and they become strongly at tached to favorite grounds, return ing with unerring precision if they are moved away from them. They are readily trained to draw sleds and thus they provide most Of the motive power required on Alaskan
 Reindeer meat, in the opinion of the Department experts, compares fayorabiy with beef if it is properly handled and produced. It is fine grained, exceptionally juicy ana tender when fresh. The relnoeer contrary to the general impression is not a game animal, but deVel opment from the wild caribou ol northern Europe and Asia throus centuries of breeding, and US meat properly speaking, is not Venlsoh'