DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 77 



five or six years they will be considered as rich and independent deer 

 men, men of as much wealth and influence as the walrus or whale 

 hunters. 



When a few rich deer men, Oomaliks, have been distributed along 

 the coast, we think the training of new herders will take care of itself. 



GENERAL SUGGESTIONS. 



(1) Pay the Alaskan for his first year's apprenticeship at least five 

 deer and for the second year at least ten deer. 



(2) When five or six of these Alaskans are considered capable of 

 managing a herd, loau them, to put with their own, at least one hun- 

 dred deer, which are to be paid back to the Government at the expira- 

 tion of five years. 



(3) If they desire some flour, cloth, and ammunition with which to 

 puchase their food and clothing, so as to enable them to get along the 

 first year without killing any of their deer, let the Government loan 

 them $100 worth of such supplies, which is to be paid back in live deer 

 at a price fixed at least $2 in advance of the average cost in Siberia. 



(4) In order to teach these people the true value of reindeer the Gov- 

 ernment should offer to purchase, during the next ten years, all the 

 surplus deer which the Alaskans can raise, at a price fixed from $2 to 

 $4 in advance of the average price paid for them in Siberia. 



(5) A superintendent should be appointed who is willing to stay here 

 at least five years. He should be a man of physical activity sufficient 

 to enable him to travel up and down the coast, visit new herds from 

 time to time, and keep the work progressing all along the line. If pos- 

 sible to find such a man he should be a deer man himself or have an 

 expert deer man to travel with him. A teacher and physician should 

 be appointed to remain at the station who could, besides their profes 

 sional duties, take charge of the Government stores, keep the accounts, 

 etc., so that the superintendent should have all his time for field work. 



We are under many obligations to Captain Healy, Mrs. Healy, the 



officers and men of the IT. S. S. Bear, for many kindnesses extended us 



and for much aid and assistance given us in order to make our new 



home comfortable and our year's work a success. 



Very truly, 



W. Thos. Lopp, Superintendent. 



Sheldon Jackson, D. D., 



General Agent of Education in Alaska, 



Washington, D. G. 



Steamship Vesteraalen, March 7, 1894. 

 Dear Sir: I am very glad to say that my journey has heen a great success so far. 

 This is my fourteenth day of travel from New York, and to-morrow I shall arrive at 

 Hammer fest, breaking all records ever made between those points. The weather 

 has been very fine. 



