16 REPORT ON INTRODUCTION OP 



increasing the food supply throughout that desolate region, I would 

 recommend that early steps be taken to turn loose a few reindeer upon 

 the principal islands of the Aleutian group and the larger islands of 

 the Bering Sea. 



REINDEER TRANSPORTATION. 



From year to year increasing numbers of the whalers are wintering 

 at Herschell Island, off the Arctic coast, northwest from the mouth of 

 the Mackenzie River. Millions of dollars of capital are invested in 

 these vessels and their outfits. If their owners in San Francisco, Cal., 

 and New Bedford, Mass., could hear from them during the winter, it 

 might make a difference of thousands of dollars in the supplies sent 

 the following spring. With the general introduction of domestic rein- 

 deer throughout Arctic Alaska, it will be entirely feasible to send the 

 mail from the whaling fleet, between four and five hundred miles across, 

 to the mining settlements on the upper Yukon River, from the mining 

 settlements, over the range, 850 miles, to southeast Alaska and civiliza- 

 tion. The Postmaster-General is already arranging for a mail service 

 to the Yukon mines. 



During last summer unusually rich placer mines were discovered in 

 the Yukon country, and with the large number of men in the United 

 States out of employment, it is probable that increasing numbers will 

 find their way to the Alaska mines. But a large number of miners 

 can not be maintained in that barren country without increased facili- 

 ties for taking in food supplies. Two river steamers make two round 

 trips a season upon the Yukon for a distance of about 2,000 miles. 

 But these steamers can not ascend the tributaries of that mighty river, 

 and it is upon the tributaries that the rich mines, so far as known, are 

 situated. The river steamers land their supplies at trading posts at 

 the mouths of these tributaries, and then the difficult question pre- 

 sents itself of getting the supplies to the mines. They can partly be 

 taken on dog sleds, and partly packed upon the backs of Indians. The 

 latter is very expensive and the former insufficient. There are not 

 dogs enough in the country to take in an ample supply. Hence the 

 miners are clamorous that reindeer should be secured in larger num- 

 bers so that they can have some for transportation purposes. 



Again, at intervals of from 200 to 500 miles Government schools and 

 missionary stations are distributed along the coast from Point Barrow 

 southward, and in the valleys of the great rivers. It is important to 

 the greater efficiency of these stations that they have more frequent 

 communication with the outside world than once a year, as at present. 

 It is also an act of common humanity to bring them more closely in 

 touch and sympathy with their friends. This can be done with the 

 general introduction of the domestic reindeer. 



At Point Barrow there is a Presbyterian mission and school, a Gov- 

 ernment refuge station, and two shore whaling stations in charge of 



