DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 93 



[Extract from Swedish Catalogue.] 



II.— STATISTICS. 



By Dr. S. A. LOfstrom, 



Actuary of the Royal Swedish Statistical Central Bureau. 



[World's Columbian Exposition, 1893, Chicago] 



Reindeer breeding. — The reindeer is the all in all of the nomad Lapp; it will fur- 

 nish everything required for his subsistence. The reindeer is to be found in the 

 northern parts of Sweden to about 63° southwards, at least along the Norwegian 

 frontier. In the space between the latter and the Gulf of Bothuia the Lapps pursue 

 their annual immigrations with the reindeer. During spring and early summer, 

 before going to the alps in midsummer time, and in autumn before commencing his 

 wanderings towards the Gulf of Bothnia, the Lapp dwells in the so-called "autumn 

 resorts," situated on the edge of the woods facing the alps, and he will remain in 

 these places for a shorter or longer period, according to the quality of the reindeer 

 pastures, consisting chiefly in reindeer moss, which the reindeer seeks for in winter 

 time by flinging away the snow. Thus the Lapp busies himself all the year round 

 with watching his herd; the tent where he lives is called "kata." In winter time 

 the removals are effected on snow-skates (skidor), or in a sleigh of boat shape, 

 called "akja." The number of reindeer owned by a Lapp varies to a considerable 

 degree. The poor may have 50 to 200 reindeer, those better off 3^0 to 700, and the 

 rich Lapps will keep 1,000 and even 5,000 reindeer. 



When a reindeer is killed, every bit of it is utilized. The meat, blood, and bowels 

 are used for food, the skin is made into clothes aud shoes, the sinews will furnish 

 materials for thread, the bones and antlers are made into handles, etc. 



When the reindeer is going to be killed, the herd, is driven together and the rein- 

 deer cows are caught and bound. The period of milking lasts from June to October, 

 and during this time every cow will give from 0.2 to 0.5 liter (one-fifth to one-half 

 quart) of milk, when milked twice a day. The milk is thick and rich, "like sweet 

 cream," but the taste resembles that of goat milk. It is seldom used when fresh, but 

 will commonly be kept for cheese-making; or for curdled milk; sometimes it is left 

 to freeze, or mingled with berries, or diluted with water for drinking, etc. 



Cured reindeer meat, skins, and cheese are the products at the disposal of the 

 Lapps to exchange for other necessaries. 



Certain Lapps, called the "Forest Lapps," will not bring their reindeer to the 

 Alps, but remain with them in the forest belt all the year round, though they will 

 move about with the reindeer in the same way as the "Alp Lapps." Besides, the 

 "Forest Lapps " will leave their reindeer to themselves during spring and autumn, 

 and then have leisure to busy themselves with hunting and fishing. 



There is some difficulty in collecting statistics on the number of reindeer, as the 

 Lapps may sometimes be unwilling or unable to give any correct statements. 

 According to the statistics of 1890, the number of reindeer in Sweden would amount 

 to 296,220, of which 52,550 were in the province of Jemtlaud, 40,500 in the province- 

 of Vesterbotten, and 203,170 in the province of Norr hotter 



