10 



INTKODlKrnON OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



and to exercise a paternal oversight over them in their new civih- 

 zation. 



If, however, during this period of twenty years the herder indulges 

 in a protracted season of intemperance, abandons or otherwise fails 

 to care for the herd, the Government is at liberty to dispossess him 

 of its loan and the increase thereof and reloans the same to other 

 parties who may give evidence of making a better use of the loan. 

 This works no injustice to the individual herder, as the herder during 

 the five years of his apprenticeship has had from the Government or 

 missionary station regular food and substantial clothing, far better 

 than he would have had if he had remained away from the herd. 

 The same is true after the years of his apprenticeship are ended; he 

 will continue to receive food and clothing from his herd instead of the 

 Government. When an apprentice becomes a herder he is expected 

 to secure the support of himself and family by the sale of surplus male 

 deer to butchers and miners, and expected to train some other appren- 

 tice. In most cases this subapprentice is some member of the herder's 

 family. There are now 39 Eskimo herders who have served an appren- 

 ticeship of five years or more supported at the different stations. 

 The herders have 61 Eskimos now under training as apprentices who 

 do not own any deer. As many of the herders have families of grow- 

 ing children and relatives living with them, it is estimated that at 

 least 400 natives are now obtaining their support from the deer. 



The reindeer are held by their owners subject to the conditions of 

 a written agreement with the United States which prevents the 

 slaughter of the female deer for meat and the sale of female deer to 

 any other party than the Government, and insures the instruction 

 of apprentices in the arts of training and breaking the deer to har- 

 ness. Surplus male deer are allowed to be sold to miners or others 

 for meat or transportation purposes. 



Number of apprentices, with their holdings. 



