12() INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALA>KA. 



Again he says: 



The Tunguse deer arc certainly magnificent animals, for they can carrv a full-grown 

 man several miles through ver}- deep snow. In fact, when we were sighted from this 

 camp, two Tunguse came out to meet us, riding deer that at times sunk in the snow nearly 

 to the sh ^ulder. The Tunguse who own reindeer do not remain long in one place, for they 

 are of necessity wanderers, being obliged to shift camp frequently to keep their deer on 

 good feeding ground. In these shiftings about the deer are utilized not only as draft, but 

 as pack animals, particularly when the snow is deep. 



Speaking of theii- use for freighting, he sa3^s : 



During the winter over 1,000 sleds leave Ola at different times, bound for Cemechan, 

 in caravans of about 100 each. With a caravan of about 100 sleds belonging to one outfit 

 there would be about 10 men, each man managing a train of 10 sleds, he driving the head 

 team, while the other teams are tied by their halter lines to the sled in front. As each 

 sled has two deer, and each train extra deer for emergencies, it will be seen that some 2,500 

 reindeer are used on this caravan route. Fifteen poods (540 pounds) per sled makes a 

 total of at least 15,000 poods (270 tons) ; and as the difference between the cost of the deer 

 caravans from Ola and the old horse caravans from Yakutsk, both bound to the same 

 place, is $4 a pood, over $60,000 is saved to the Government yearly by the establishment 

 of this deer caravan route from Ola to the Kolima River. 



Concerning their use as pack animals, he says: 



During my travel in the winter I had seen the reindeer used extensively with the saddle, 

 especially in deep snow: but while I had noted their occasional use as pack animals, it 

 was by no means general. Now, however, in the summer, I found they were used entirely 

 as beasts of burden. In wnnter, when sleds can be used, two deer draw a load of from 15 

 to 20 poods, or from 540 to 720 pounds, thus transporting from 270 to 360 pounds per deer. 

 That amount is not considered excessive, and the animals plod along with such a load 

 day after day. When used as a pack animal, 150 pounds are considered the proper weight 

 for the pack, though some animals can carry 200 pounds and more. 



After much trouble Lieutenant Bertholf succeeded in purchasing 

 428 head of these large deer, and a sliip was chartered to bring them 

 to Alaska. However, owing to rough weather, 174 of these deer died 

 or were killed on the voyage, and only 254 were landed at Teller Rein- 

 deer Station, Port Clarence. 



TRAINING THE DEER. 



Reindeer are naturally wild, and it takes much time, patience, and 

 skill to train them so they can be handled without much trouble. 

 Their wildness is in large measure due to the fact that they are usually 

 bred in large herds, and individual animals are therefore not accus- 

 tomed to be handled by the herders, who confine their attention in 

 this respect to the few trained sled deer. The training begins when 

 the deer is 3 years old. Generally the stoutest males and geldings 

 are selected. Females are also trained, but they are smaller and less 

 enduring. The training begins b}" lassoing the selected animals, thus 

 separating them from the herd. The poor beasts are much scared, 

 and jump about in frantic efforts to escape. The trainer advances 

 hand over hand on the rawhide lasso till the head is reached. Thev 



