616 KEINDEER IN ALASKA. 



THE ESKIMO AS HERDERS. 



With careful training- tlie Eskimo make excellent herders. Thej-^ 

 are by nature good imitators, though not inventive, and readily learn 

 how to take care of the reindeer, to throw the lasso, to harness and 

 drive the deer, and to watch the fawns. Siberian herders were at 

 first imported to teach them, and later the more intelligent and effi- 

 cient Laplanders, who have learned by centuries of experience to give 

 to the breeding of reindeer the care that we give to the breeding of 

 cattle. In the winter of 1898 sixty-three Laplanders and their fami- 

 lies volunteered to go to Alaska, the United States GoAermiient pa}-- 

 ing' the expenses of their long journey of 10,000 miles. When their 

 term of enlistment expired some reenlisted, some of them went home 

 again, ])ut the majority turned miners. Evervone will ])e glad to 

 know that at least two-thirds of the whole number made fortunes in 

 the Cape Nome gold fields. 



The reindeer herders have to l)e watchful. Now and then reckless 

 miners try to plunder the herds, or l)y their carelessness set fire to the 

 moss. A fire will sweep over the moss barrens, licking up every fiber 

 of the moss, as it sweeps over our westei'n prairies. A moss fire is 

 even more destructive, for many years pass before the moss will grow 

 again. 



At the end of a year's service the Government makes a gift to 

 deserving herders of two or more reindeer. 



REINDEER RAISING AS AN INDUSTRY. 



When one considers that raising- reindeer in Alaska is simple and 

 the profits enormous, one is surprised that as yet no one has really 

 gone into the reindeer business, especially at Nome, where a rich 

 market awaits the reindeer farmer. 



A fawn during the first four years costs the owner less than $i a 

 3^ear. At the end of the four years it will bring at the mines from 

 $50 to $100 for its meat, or if trained to the sled or for the pack, is 

 easily worth $100 to $150. 



The fawns are ver}' healthy and but few die. The do(\s are prolific, 

 and after they are 2 3"ears of age add a fawn to the herd each year 

 for ten years. Last year, out of 50 does 2 years and more of age in 

 one herd, 48 had fawns, and of these only five died, three of which 

 were lost through accidents or by the carelessness of the herder. 



The reindeer are so gregai-ious and timid that one herder can easily 

 g-uard 1,000 head. The hercfer knows that if a few stray off he need 

 not look for them, as they will soon become frightened and rejoin the 

 main herd. 



The does make almost as good sled deer as the bulls and geldings, 

 though they are slightly smaller and less enduring. 



