26 INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



Upon the return of Dr. C. O. Lind to Unalakleet, December 22, 

 Mr. Nils Persen Bals was placed in charge of herd No. 2, at Unalak- 

 lik, on Norton Sound, and his son, Per Nilson Bals, was given charge 

 of the Roman Catholic herd at Nulato, Lower Yukon Piver. 



THE CRUISE OF DR. WILLIAM HAMILTON, ASSISTANT AGENT. 



The annual visit of inspection of United States public schools in 

 western Alaska and the tour of the Yukon River with a view of ascer- 

 taining the points at which it would be advisable to establish public 

 schools was made by Dr. William Hamilton, the assistant agent. 

 The following is an abstract of his itinerary : 



Leaving Washington June 8, Dr. Hamilton joined the U. S. S. 

 Thetis at Honolulu for the arctic cruise. From Honolulu the Thetis 

 proceeded direct to Unalaska, where she arrived July 14. While the 

 Thetis was coaling and making repairs to her machinery, Doctor 

 Hamilton inspected the public school at Unalaska, conferring with 

 the teachers and members of the local school committee and authoriz- 

 ing needed repairs to the school building. 



On July 25 and 27 the seal islands St. George and St. Paul were 

 visited. The schools on these islands, by the terms of their contract, 

 are under the control of the North American Commercial Company, 

 the lessee of the islands. 



On July 30 the school and reindeer station on St. Lawrence Island 

 were inspected, and Doctor Campbell and Mrs. Campbell, the teachers, 

 were received on the Thetis for passage to the mainland, where, after 

 three years of continuous residence on the island, they were to enjoy 

 a well-earned vacation. 



At Nome, July 31, the Thetis took on board mail matter for the 

 remote schools on the shores of Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean, and 

 then proceeded to St. Michael, near the mouth of the Yukon, where 

 Doctor Hamilton left the vessel. 



At St. Michael Doctor Hamilton made arrangements for the stor- 

 ing of the lumber for the new schoolhouse until the arrival of the 

 carpenter who was to erect the building, increased the membership of 

 the local school committee, and completed the arrangements for the 

 opening of the new term of school in September. 



On August 7 he left St. Michael on the steamer Roclc Island for the 

 long journey up the Yukon River. Among the passengers were Mr. 

 H. E. Redmyer and his assistant, who were to have charge of the 

 transportation of a herd of reindeer from Bethel to Copper Center, 

 and many consultations were had regarding this important under- 

 taking. 



At Ikogmut (Russian mission) Mr. Redmyer's party left the steamer 

 to commence the overland part of their journey. A United States 

 public school was opened at Ikogmut October, 1904. 



