Twelfth Annual Report on Introduction of Domestic Reindeer into Alaska, with Map and Illustrations, 1902
Author: Jackson, Sheldon
Date: 1903-00-00
Type: Historical Materials
Subjects: Animals,Animal Husbandry,Rural Areas,Rural Education,American Indian Education,Foreign Countries,Vocational Education,Agricultural Education,Alaska Natives,Purchasing

Following a letter of transmittal, this document presents the 12th annual report on the introduction of reindeer into Alaska. The document includes commendations for several Lapp and native herders in Education Commissioner W.T. Harris's report-transmittal letter to the Senate. The report by General Agent for Education in Alaska, Sheldon Jackson, notes that a prosperous year has passed. With the spring birth of 1,651 fawns and purchase of 30 deer, the herds total 5,148 head. There are 27 Eskimo apprentices learning herd management and care. Although the winter of 1901-02 was the coldest since 1894, the light snowfall meant there was no fall thaw covering the moss that would inhibit feeding. Jackson reports on the Teller Reindeer Station and the Point Barrow, Kotzebue, Cape Prince of Wales, Gambell, Golofnin, Eaton, Nulato, and Kuskokwim herds. Following news that the Russian government prohibited reindeer exportation to Alaska, a U.S. request was made to allow 300 head to be bought in summer 1902. The Russians consented as long as coin rather than barter was used. Jackson recommends that the U.S. government seek an agreement with the Russians for using barter when trying to purchase from Siberian natives who have never used circulating money and are completely unfamiliar with it. Jackson noted that customs law on animals purchased from Asia came to his attention, and thus he also advised that a customs inspector accompany the reindeer purchasing party and inspect the reindeer before leaving Siberia, given the difficulty in bringing the animals from Siberia to San Diego for customs inspection and then taking them to Alaska. Data breaks out reindeer ownership in the region, five-year increase, congressional appropriations, and reindeer-fund expenditures. Jackson also details the school and reindeer-station inspection itinerary of Assistant Agent William Hamilton, and covers reindeer transportation, the 260-mile reindeer mail route in which one experienced carrier froze to death with no loss of his herd, herd transfers, and the value of reindeer for missions. Jackson details his school- and herd-inspection itinerary from Washington on June 27, 1902. He returned to Washington on September 10, 1902, after journeying 15,108 miles. Appendices include letters of instruction; correspondence on Bureau of Education agents' transportation; official papers on reindeer inspection; annual reports from the Point Barrow, Kotzebue, Cape Prince of Wales, Gambell, Teller, Golofnin, Eaton, Nulato, and Bethel Reindeer Stations; the Teller Reindeer Station daily log book and meteorological record; extracts from Eskimo apprentice Sepilla's daily journal; and papers concerning herd transfer, purchasing, loan, and mail usage; as well as a memorandum on the potential economic value of cod-liver oil if fish are caught from August to March around the Kodiak, Shumagin, and Sunnak Banks.