86 INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



Ill the first place, I have to discuss the situation of this station. I 

 have already heretofore said that my first impressions were not favor- 

 able, and it has since become evident on many occasions that a better 

 place might have been cliosen not far from here. When I say better, I 

 mean better for the herd and for the reindeer in du stry. In other respects 

 a more favorable spot could hardly have been found.' That which, most 

 prevents tbe prosperity of the animals is the dampness of the ground 

 everywhere. Moreover, the landscape is monotonous — flat, without 

 hills and deep valleys, wliere the snow lies until late in the summer, 

 the best kind of medicine for a herd of reindeer. The greatest danger 

 of losing reindeer is the ceaseless wind from the north during the 

 whole winter and from the south and southwest during the whole sum- 

 mer. The latter winds are, however, not of great im]iortance, but the 

 biting cold wind in the winter keeps the animals from eating. They 

 gather together as closely as possible to keeji themselves warm. The 

 animals exposed to the wind and cold continually run to the other side, 

 and in this manner they continue until the storm becomes too violent 

 and blows through the wliole herd and scatters them. 



As soon as the herd is scattered all the heads are turned with the 

 wind and away they run until the storm is over. The storm may con- 

 tinue for weeks at a time. The reindeer continue to run until they 

 find some sheltered place, where they begin to eat without thinking of 

 returning. If so much money had not already been spent in building- 

 up the houses here, the station ought to be moved, even if no farther 

 than to the south side of Grantley Harbor or on the same side of Lake 

 Imaurook, where the ground, the pastures, and the climate are excellent. 



In sele(;ting apprentices it would not be well to choose the best hunts- 

 man among the Eskimos, for the fact that a man is a successful huntsman 

 shows that his strongest interests lie in the direction of a hunter's life; 

 that this view is correct has been demonstrated by our apprentices. 

 The liking for hunting is a hindrance to the interest in herding and 

 taking care of reindeer, and hunters are not willing to settle down to 

 the somewhat confining life of a herder. To this should be added that 

 all those among the Eskimos who live where there is seal fishing, and 

 who on that account are good, zealous huntsmen, are the ones who in the 

 longest run will be able to maintain themselves without reindeer. They 

 will longest be able to get their support from the seal. Such appren- 

 tices should first be chosen who are likely to be the first to need help 

 in obtaining their support, to wit, those Eskimos who live among the 

 fiords and along the streams. These have nothing to satisfy their 

 hunger with but fish which they catch from day to day. The best and 

 most intelligent men among these should be chosen and be given the 

 first places regardless of how poor they may be. The chief thing to be 

 considered is their intelligence. 



' The site was selected becaiise of its advantages for landing snpplies for the herd 

 and the station. Seagoing vessels can not safely enter Grantley Harbor. 



