BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 447 



RANGES. 



Careful investigations were made of the kind and distribution of 

 forage plants and of the grazing capacity of the reindeer ranges over 

 a large area. The vital importance of this investigation has become 

 evident since it was learned definitely that in winter reindeer are 

 almost entirely dependent on reindeer moss. This involves the neces- 

 sity of providing summer and winter grazing areas for each herd, 

 in which the " moss " or winter areas must be larger than those for 

 summer, when grass and other ordinary herbage is eaten. This fact 

 has necessitated a change in computing the grazing capacity of rein- 

 deer ranges from a basis of 30 acres per animal to from 40 to 60 

 acres. On this new basis it is estimated that Seward Peninsula alone 

 would carry approximately 200,000 head. 



CARIBOU INVESTIGATIONS. 



The field naturalist with headquarters at Fairbanks continued his 

 investigations of caribou during the j-ear and obtained much valuable 

 information during an extended winter trip through the Endicott 

 Range country and back to Fairbanks by way of Fort Yukon. 



INVESTIGATION OF REINDEER INDUSTRY IN NORTHERN EUROPE. 



The investigation of the reindeer industry in northern Europo. 

 conducted in August and September by the bureau's former chief 

 specialist in the reindeer investigations in Alaska, proved not only 

 very interesting but of much value in its relation to the reindeer 

 investigations now being made. The Norwegian reindeer were found 

 to be smaller than the Alaskan animals, and less fat, both character- 

 istics probably being due to the depleted ranges. The heaviest 

 reindeer were found in Lapland. In Norway reindeer were found 

 to be very healthy as a rule and less attacked by warble flies than 

 in Alaska, the constant moving of the herds being given as the cause 

 for this freedom from parasites. The frequent moving of herds 

 recommended by the bureau's experts in Alaska in 1921 is now 

 being followed by many herd owners in the Territory, with bene- 

 ficial results. 



PROTECTION OF LAND FUR ANIMALS. 



Some progress has been made in the work of protecting land fur 

 animals in Alaska, but not so much as is desirable, owing to the in- 

 adequate law and to the limited funds available for the purpose. 

 The practical value of educational work to emphasize the need of 

 better conservation of both the game and fur animals of Alaska 

 is shown b}'^ the rapid growth of favorable sentiment in the Terri- 

 tory and by an increasing appreciation of the work being done along 

 these lines'by the bureau. 



The only important change in the fur regulations during the 

 year related to the protection of blue foxes, and was made at the 

 request of the blue-fox farmers in order to prevent poaching, an evil 

 practice which was becoming a serious menace to the industry. This 

 regulation, promulgated on January 9, prcriliibits the killing of blue 

 foxes at all times in district 1, except on the Aleutian Islands Res- 



