INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 77 



aud instruction might be somewbiit ec^uitably divided, it was thought 

 best to keep an account, made up every montli, and foHowed through 

 the week. At the end of tlie week it would be added up so as to show 

 hownuxuy animals each man had hissoed and nullced; how many miles 

 each one had driven. 



From the list it will ap[)ear that some of the Lapps have been kej)t at 

 the station more than others. The reason for this was that these were 

 best qualified for various kinds of work — that is, for making harness 

 as well as for making sleds and for preparing materials for building, 

 for tanning and preparing skins, for driving and training aninnds, etc. 

 For training animals, Mikkel Josefsen Xakkila and Johan Speinseu 

 Tornensis are the most competent, not only in Port Clarence, Alaska, 

 but also in Kontokeino, Lapland. Hundreds of reindeer have been 

 left M'ith them by the other Lapps to be trained, the owners being less 

 skilled in this branch of reindeer industry. In Lapland it is customary 

 to give the one who trains the reindeer the free use of it for one year — 

 no small consideration, as they there have an opportunity of carrying 

 passengers ami transporting goods at so much per mile — a very profit- 

 able business. From this it may be seen how important it is considered 

 to have the sled deer well trained, in order to get the best results from 

 the capacity of the aninuil to do work. 



The Lapps who have been kept with the herd most of tlie time have 

 several strong points in herding, in being careful and attentive to its 

 wants, and among them I must mention Per Aslaksen liist. He is 

 regarded as the most reliable and careful man for herding reindeer. 

 Such also was his reputation in Laphmd, where he was intrusted with 

 local oltices, being a member of the board of supervisors and member 

 of the court of consent. He is also the best of our herders and a mau 

 who in Lapland always owned his own and still owns a herd of 1,150 

 reindeer. It seems that his statements and views in regard to the 

 moving of the herd, in regard to the quality of the pastures, and in 

 regard to nmtters in general are l;iw to the other herders and to the 

 apprentices. They never contradicted him in such things, but ([uietly 

 recognized his superiority in this field. To tlus must be added his 

 great talent for managing a number of subordinates, a (piality which 

 he has acquired by many years practice in Lapland. 



As I have heretofore informed you, this man did not come simply for 

 the purpose of adding a few dollars to those which he already owns, 

 but also for the purpose of making observations in regard to the 

 Alaskan reindeer enterprise and to get acquainted Mith the climate and 

 other conditions. If it should become necessary for some of the La])- 

 landers to enngrate from Lapland, it will doubtless rest with him to 

 decide whether or not the emigrants are to go to Alaska. 



The other Laplanders, to wit, Aslak Larsen Somby, Sannnd Kemi, 

 and IMathis Eira, are also excellent herders. Aslak Larsen Somby and 

 Mathis Eira are also thoroughly schooled in fishing, so that both tlie 



