INTRODUCTION OB^ DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 103 



herd 16 or 18 miles north of Unalakleet. Bals was going toward the 

 seashore about 6 miles north of Unalakleet village for the summer, 

 and there he is now. 



Although the herds have never been less than 18 to 20 miles a})art, 

 the herders have had some trouble in keeping the deer from strolling 

 from the one herd to the other. They have all liad good pasture and 

 no trouble with snow or any icy crust has been encountered during the 

 past winter. The fawns began to come on April 13. The weather was 

 most beautiful, and the death rate among the fawns in both herds has 

 been exceptionally low. Since some time before the fawning season 

 began the herds have never been alone. Two and sometimes three 

 men have been watching by day and by night, so it is certain that no 

 fawns have died from want of care on the herders' part. 



The health among the herders has been most excellent the past 

 year. Not only at Unalakleet, but at all the stations visited, the 

 herders have been well and happy, with only one exception^ — John 

 (Eskimo) at Golofnin, was suffering from pneumonia, and as it was 

 his third attack he is naturally very much weakened and might not 

 be able to stay with the herd and do as well as he at first promised. 



The natives in general are quite well if we except the old chronic 

 tubercular and rheumatic cases which are found in every village. 

 Six deaths have taken place in our village of about 300 inhabitants 

 during the year, but in return we have been blessed with 16 births, 

 and out of these 15 are living and thriving w^ell. 



Among the other improvements of the village we now have the 

 pleasure of counting a new school building, for which the w^hole vil- 

 lage population seems to be really thankful. Several natives who 

 know Doctor Jackson have specially expressed their thanks to him 

 because of all the interest he has shown for their advancement. In 

 this connection allow me also to express our gratitude on behalf of 

 the Unalakleet Mission for the assistance in getting that new and 

 nmch-needed schoolhouse for the boys and for the medicines which 

 were left for my use among the natives. 



The Government buildings have been used but little t-he past year 

 and are all in good repair. One of the cabins near the telegraph 

 station was by my permission used by the Signal Corps men at the 

 station as a store for their supplies a portion of the winter. The 

 herders, when they come for their provisions, never care to stay in 

 a room on that side the river, but they ahvays go to some native to 

 stay instead. One special trouble we have encountered the past 

 year was at Eaton, As no one has been living there, travelers have 

 been breaking in and made their home in the big building. After 

 the first time I found it we left one small cabin open in which trav- 

 elers could stay if they wanted, but still they were not satisfied to 

 leave the other building in peace. 



