378 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



REINDEER INDUSTRY AND FUR BEARERS OF ALASKA. 



In the appropriation act approved May 31, 1920, for the fiscal 

 year ending June 30, 1921, provision was made for the Biological 

 Survey to investigate the reindeer industry in Ahiska with a view 

 to its development. At the same time the administration of the 

 laws protecting the land fur-bearing animals of Alaska was trans- 

 ferred from the Bureau of Fisheries in the Department of Commerce 

 to the Biological Survey. During June, 1920, the services of an 

 experienced pathologist and veterinarian and two men experienced in 

 grazing investigations in the Forest Service were obtained for the 

 purpose of acquiring basic information needed for the furthering of 

 the reindeer industry. An experiment station will be established as 

 soon as possible after the beginning of the fiscal year 1921, at some 

 point on the coast of Bering Sea. A naturalist will spend the year 

 investigating the caribou herds of Alaska to obtain information 

 which will be useful in this work. The enormous area occupied by 

 the land fur-bearers of Alaska, which are being seriously over- 

 trapped, renders their protection exceedingly difficult. However, a 

 warden service will be established and so far as possible with the 

 limited funds available the Alaskan fur-bearers Avill receive pro- 

 tection. 



