96 REPORT ON INTRODUCTION OP 



soon as the snow turns hard or "skare," as we call it (which means to a crust of 

 snow), one has to look out for places where the grounds are better, or move down 

 to the seashore. 



In order to drive the herds onward, it is absolutely necessary to have good dogs. 

 One of the largest reindeer is led ahead and the rest are driven after him. For the 

 purpose of training a reindeer, the animal has to be caught with a lasso and then 

 tied to some post or other place for about one-half day, after which maneuver he is 

 willing to be led; however, it is advisable to offer him a small amount of salt in 

 order to gain his confidence. The rein ox should not be castrated before he is 

 3-£ years old, and the operation should be undertaken in the month of September. 

 For castrating purposes two stones are used with which to crush the " Trikiler." The 

 Laplanders use, as a rule, two rounded stones; the pouch must not be injured, 

 because in that case the reindeer will grow lean and stupid. The half-castrated 

 animals usually turn out to be the finest animals. This castrating is performed in 

 a different manner; only one of the "Trikiler" is crushed, while the other is pinched 

 off half ways, and only the lower end of the half is crushed. 



In case you wish to learn further details, please let me know; you probably need 

 somebody to go on to Alaska. No doubt I am too late with my application for the 

 place. 



My health is good and I have a strong constitution. 



Age 31 years, and unmarried. I am anxious for an answer. 



Yours, truly, 



Geo. Hammer, Bozeman, Mont. 



REINDEER INTRODUCED IN SOUTHERN NORWAY. 



McNeils Island, Washington, February IS, 1S95. 



Sir: To-day I received from a friend in Norway a reply to your inquiry concern- 

 ing the success of importing domestic reindeer from Lapland to soatheru Norway, a 

 distance of 600 miles, with great variation of climate. He writes: " Some two years 

 ago a couple of farmers (Bonder) in the district of Valders, conceived the idea of 

 supplying the cities of southern Norway and the many tourist hotels in the country 

 with the celebrated fresh reindeer meat all the year around. Valders is a highland 

 120 miles north of Christian ia, covered with moss, and well adapted for the raising 

 of domestic reindeer. After agitating the matter other farmers became interested 

 and a joint stock company was formed. Three hundred head of reindeer were pur- 

 chased in Lapland and a family of Laplanders employed to come with and take 

 charge of the herd. In addition to herding, the Lapps were to teach the business 

 to some of the farmer boys of Valders. Notwithstanding the prediction of some 

 people that the reindeer would not thrive so far south, as it is very hot in the 

 Valders Mountains in summer and the snow very deep in winter, the loss has been 

 trifling and the enterprise has proven a success, returning to the stockholders many 

 hundred per cent on their investment." 



According to the knowledge I have of Alaska it is much like my native land and 



its wonderful scenery will attract an increasingly large number of tourists from 



year to year. These will in the future make a good market for the surplus reindeer, 



and thus directly benefit the native owners and indirectly the whole country. 



Truly, yours, 



C. Ian gen. 



Dr. Sheldon Jackson. 



