The Nome nugget., 1934-04-14
BREWSTER DISCUSSES
 REINDEER
Accomplished from Seward Daily
 Gateway. March 20, 1ss4.)

lnfOuSn the scourheSy eOI Lyman IS. Brewster, general reindeer sup erintendent, Alaska Department of Interior, the Following brief' out line, past and present, of the rein deer situation, written expressly for the Gateway which has had much to say about reindeer these past few years, will be read with considerable interest:
 v"The importations of reindeer finally totalled something over 1.200 head. The original herd was established at the Teller Mission, Port Clarence Bay. From that meagre beginning, herds are now to- be found along the entire Ber- ing Sea, and Arctic Ocean coast. An estimate of the number, leads one into the realms of speeula- ton, and serves no good purpose. BENEFITS OUTSTANDING
 However, benefits that accrue to the inhabitants of$ such areas, both native and white, in supply ing food and clothing, if translat- led into dollars, would reach an Iastounding figure. Indications are that in several areas, the local consumption has increased almost in proportion to the increase in the herds, the results being that the surplus is not as great as was anticipated.
 Originally the reindeer were herded, like sheep, but gradually, due to economic reasons, as we'll las increase of number, the pract- ice has been abandoned, except for periods of marketing and butch ering. It can be readily seen that q band of 5000 to 10000 ami
 mals. if kept constantly under herd, would trample and destroy more feed than would be eonsum- ed.
 'The abandonment of lherding has resulted in the breaking down of individual herds, so that much drifting and mixing has occurred To segregate the strays and re turn them to their own range, would result in never ending md costly process, which event. nally would have to be abandon cd due to the absence of natural boundaries between herds. It log ically follows that separation of Eskimo from Eskimo owned reindeer will not be undertaken, except in special instances, where local circumstances seem to justi- " such action.
 DIRECTED BY GOVERNOR
 ''The U. S. Reindeer Service succeeds to the work which was formerly performed by the Bur eau of Education. Its present per sonnel consists of the General Superintendent, with headquarters lat Nome; and five, Supervisors, one for each of the following dis tricts; Buckland, Teller, Nome. EgaYik and Bethel. Tn addition, the services of teachers in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, are re- lied upon for assistance at ev- cry village in the reindeer areas. 'The Service IS under. the direc- lion of Governor John W. Troy.
 The work is advisory, and sup ervisory, covering all reindeer areas, and one of the most inn portant phases of 1t is in spre- pairing records of all markings and handlings, in order that a proper distribution of increase is given to respective owners. This phase of the work has in the past year been extended to cover white-owned herds as well as na- tive, and will have the effect of eliminating one of the earlier sources of misunderstanding, and confusion. :.
 NEW LOCATIONS SOUGHT
 ''The prospects of establishing an industry engaged in the butch ering and marketing of reindeer meat is not encouraging, due to the prevailing low market prices for meats, and also for the seas on that the surplus of butcher able animals, available at central points, is not as great as was or iginally anticipated.
 "There will be no attempt, on the part of the Reindeer Service to establish herds in the vicinity of the Alaska Railroad, 6ut if