VALUABLE ANIMALS OF THE ARCTIC 297 



True there is other work to be done. Every spring along comes fawning 

 season and the deer herders have to stand watch day and night by turns. Now 

 and then the long, wild note of the Arctic wolf is heard through the midwinter 

 gloom and a constant watch must be kept by well armed men. The repeating 

 rifle rnade wolves so scarce, however, that dogs are by far the greatest source 

 of danger. 



It seems utterly impossible to train the malamoot dog to herd deer. At 

 sight of a deer the tamest malamoot becomes as uncontrollable as though he 

 had never known human restraint and were once more a plain wolf. 



Besides guarding the herd occasionally from these dangers there are sled 

 deer to be trained, and every June there is a kind of roundup, when the young 

 fawns are marked, along with all deer that have changed owners during the 

 year. In the ear of each Government deer a little aluminum button is riveted 

 securely, but all private owners and herders have a mark which must be reg- 

 istered with the local superintendent and also at Washington. This mark is 

 made by cutting the ear. 



So far the native in the Far North has made almost no use of the wonder- 

 fully rich milk of the reindeer. This milk, which is as white as the Arctic 

 snows, is at least 90 per cent cream. In fact it is practically all a rich, snow 

 white, sugary cream. It is the most nourishing milk in the world, but the 

 Government has so far supplied the camps with condensed milk, and the herders 

 have preferred opening cans to milking deer. 



Unlike the Laplander, the Eskimo does not make a pet of his favorite deer. 

 When he wants to milk her she is lassoed and thrown down. When her legs 

 are carefully tied with walrus skin strings and her horns are safely held by 

 some stout friend the process of milking begins. When the last drop is ex- 

 tracted the highly indignant animal is unlashed and allowed to get up and 

 go about her business. 



Sometimes a horn is knocked off or a leg broken before the struggling rein- 

 deer understands that she is to be milked and not branded or butchered. Under 

 the circumstances the dairying feature of Arctic life is not very prominent and 

 the milkmaid's song is not welcomed by the wise little animals that have under- 

 gone the torture of one milking. 



As only a limited number can be appointed apprentices every year and thus 

 draw Government rations, many are now trying to get deer from other natives 

 without waiting for Government favors. In this few have succeeded, for the 

 owners, recognizing their great value, are running the price of female rein- 



