Report on Introduction of Domestic Reindeer into Alaska, with Illustrations, 1896
Author: Sheldon, Jackson
Date: 1897-00-00
Type: Historical Materials
Subjects: Animals,Animal Husbandry,Alaska Natives,Rural Education,Agricultural Education,Foreign Countries,Immigration,American Indian Education

The action of the US Senate is that the Secretary of the Interior be directed to transmit to the Senate the report of Dr. Sheldon Jackson upon &quot;The introduction of domestic reindeer into the District of Alaska for 1896.&quot; Following a letter of transmittal, this document presents General Agent of Education in Alaska, Sheldon Jackson's sixth annual report of &quot;The introduction of domestic reindeer into the District of Alaska&quot; as submitted to the Commissioner of Education.In his report, Jackson notes that since his last annual report a log schoolhouse with bell tower and woodhouse were built for reindeer station employees' children. The main headquarters building was also enlarged, furnishing temporary herders' family quarters when necessary, and enabling storage of seal meat, oil, blubber, dried and frozen fish. The addition also has a carpenter's bench, and sleds and snowshoes are made there. The attic stores sails, boat oars, and fishing nets. Huts were made for herders moving between the herd and the main station during winter. In July, a brig loaded with school supplies and a missionary family's personal effects were lost after a strong southerly wind wrecked the vessel. The Lapps, valuable reindeer care and management instructors to the Eskimos, expressed concern that there was no physician in the area to tend their families, and a medical doctor was appointed assistant station superintendent. In all, five herds have been established in Alaska, for a total of 1,100 head. Herds close to the central station take priority in distribution so that the new herds can be more conveniently supervised. Hopes were to purchase 1,000 or more head per year from Siberia, but this has not been possible, and the central station at Port Clarence cannot distribute head such that the central herd is weakened. Influx of Yukon miners in the last season has created a demand for reindeer as freight carriers, and numbers of missionaries have increased. Reindeer have become as essential to white men as to Eskimos, and more Lapps will have to be imported for herder training. At the request of Jackson's office, through the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of State communicated with His Imperial Majesty the Czar of Russia requesting permission for Jackson's office to place a purchasing agent and one or two herdsmen on the Siberian coast adjacent to Alaska. Food scarcity continues, with ensuing loss of life. Jackson notes that larger congressional appropriations would enable purchase and distribution of two herds of 5,000 head each. Their natural increase would extend the stock until the region is covered. Jackson extensively documents his itinerary for inspecting stations and schools, leaving from Washington, D.C. on May 14, 1896, and arriving in Seattle on May 29th. On July 4 off St. Lawrence Island, the ship was decorated with flags and a 21-gun salute fired. Jackson returned to Washington on October 22. Appendices include the Teller Reindeer Station report, the Teller daily journal, Teller meteorology report, annual reports from Cape Nome, Cape Prince of Wales, Golovin Bay, reports on reindeer transfer to Swedish and Episcopalian missions, driving a herd from Port Clarence to Golovin Bay, an inland trip from Point Barrow, reindeer disease, and Lapp colonization, as well as correspondence.