12 P^ISHERY AND FUR INDUSTRIES OF ALASKA IN 1912. 



stocking the islands. At the end of August, 1911, the U. S. Revenue 

 Cutter Bear took on board at Unalakleet, Alaska, 40 head of reindeer, 

 25 of which (21 cows and 4 bulls) were placed on St. Paul Island 

 August 31, and the remaining 15 (12 cows and 3 bulls) were landed on 

 St. George Island the next day, September 1 . All were adult animals 

 except two of the males placed on St. George, which were jearhngs. 

 The adult bull put on St. George soon disappeared and has not been 

 seen since. In landing those intended for St. Paul Island a leg of one 

 of the bulls was broken and the animal died a few days later. In the 

 winter one of the young cows wandered away from the herd and died. 

 The remaining 23 animals on St. Paul (20 cows and 3 bulls) and 14 on 

 St. George (12 cows and 2 young bulls) passed through the winter 

 successfully and practically all of them in the spring appeared to be 

 in excellent condition. 



Between April 17 and May 21, 1912, inclusive, 18 fawns were born 

 on St. Paul, and during approximately the same period 11 were born 

 on St. George. One of the former was stillborn. Of the latter there 

 were 9 males and 2 females. The sexes of those on St. Paul were not 

 determined. 



At the end of August, 1912, the Pribilof herds contained a total of 

 65 reindeer, all fat and sleek and apparently in excellent condition. 



Two native Esldmo herders, one for each island, had been brought 

 from the mainland. They gave the herds such attention as was 

 necessary. The animals were permitted to roam at wiU over the 

 islands except for a brief period during which the cows were retained 

 in corrals while the fawns were being dropped. During the early 

 part of the fall the herds remained chiefly on the lower parts of the 

 islands, where they fed on the grasses which grow there luxuriantly. 

 As colder weather and snows came on, the animals moved to liigher 

 ground, where they fed chiefly on reindeer moss. 



In the opinion of the herders, the naturalist, and the agents, there 

 is an abundance of reindeer moss and suitable grasses. 



It was found, contrary to some predictions, that the reindeer did 

 not interfere in the least with the fur seals. They rarely went near 

 the rookeries, and when they did no disturbance resulted. 



It is believed that the success of this experiment justifies the belief 

 that a hei'd of several hundred reindeer can be maintained on each 

 island. In all probability the herds can be built up and maintained 

 at a number which will permit the killing of at least 200 head annually. 

 Not only will the reindeer be thus useful in supplj^ing a considerable 

 amount of very desirable food for the inhabitants of the islands, but 

 they will also prove of great value on the islands for use in transpor- 

 tation. 



The beaches of the islands are often strewn with largo quantities of 

 driftwood which, except in the immediate vicinity of the villages from 



