DOMESTICATION OF RUMINATING MAMMALS 323 



Education for the natives of Alaska for the year 1917-1918. 

 The reports from the reindeer stations for the fiscal year 

 ending June 30, 1917, show that the reindeer had increased 

 from 82,151 in 1916 to 98,582, and the number of herds 

 from 85 to 98. Of the 98,582 reindeer, 67,448, or 69 per 

 cent, were owned by 1,568 natives; 3,046, or 3 per cent, were 

 owned by the United States Government; 4,645, or 5 per 

 cent, were owned by the missions; and 23,443, or 23 per cent, 

 were owned by Lapps and other whites. The whites ob- 

 tained their reindeer by buying out the Lapp herders who 

 had obtained deer without restrictions. The total income 

 of the natives from the reindeer industry during the fiscal 

 year 1916-1917, was $97,515. The total nmnber of reindeer, 

 namely 98,582, is a net increase of 20 per cent during the 

 year, notwithstanding the fact that 13,144 reindeer were 

 killed for meat and skins, or were lost. There were in 

 Alaska, June 30, 1918, approximately 100,000 reindeer. 



With the establishment of this industry on a firm basis 

 the government has reduced the appropriation made to this 

 service. A number of reindeer companies have been formed, 

 and steps are being taken by scientific management to place ■ 

 the industry on a business basis. Outside markets are being 

 secured for the meat and for the tanned skins, and reindeer 

 meat is now shipped not only to cities on the Pacific coast, 

 but to the Middle West and as far as New York. 



It is claimed by some that while a certain amount of new 

 blood has been introduced into the herds by association with 

 the native caribou, new blood is needed, as the last importa- 

 tions of reindeer from Siberia were made in 1902. Con- 

 stant inbreeding has led to a noticeable reduction in the 

 prolificness of the females, and degeneration is to be ob- 

 served in many herds.* 



* The United States Biological Survey is giving attention to the question of 

 grazing. In Norway, it has been found that the reindeer moss takes from 

 five to seven years to reproduce itself. 



