14 REPORT ON THE INTRODUCTION OP 



was able to secure the promise of one hundred deer, but before they 

 could be brought off from the shore to the vessel the ice compelled the 

 captain to change his anchorage, having only twenty-six reindeer 

 on board. He had already held on so long that he lost his propeller 

 in forcing bis way out. When clear of the ice he started for Koco- 

 dillin. Here he met with the same difficulty, the natives again refus- 

 ing to trade, saying, " No whisky, no deer." While trying to secure 

 the reindeer at this station, again the ice came in shore, seeing 

 which the natives who had been holding out for whisky came to terms 

 and hastened to sell. Lieut. Jarvis was despatched on shore to pro- 

 cure the reindeer as quickly as possible, but before the deer were all 

 caught he was recalled on board on account of the dangerous proximity 

 of the ice. Great fields of ice, owing to a northwestern gale, were 

 crowding into the bay so that in a few hours the vessel was completely 

 hemmed in. Then began the usual ramming and pushing to get the 

 steamer free from the ice. Everybody was on deck and on the alert. 

 It was a hard fight, and with the greatest of difficulty the ship was 

 relieved from the pressure. No sooner was the ship free from the ice 

 than there came a dense fog, with a heavy northerly gale, and the ship 

 was obliged to heave to, with no chance for anchorage, and no food for 

 the deer on board. The captain then determined to sail direct for Port 

 Clarence, in order to land his deer, which place was reached the follow- 

 ing day through wind and fog. Again returning to Siberia, the village 

 at South Head was visited, and twenty-six deer were purchased, making 

 the total number, for the season, landed at the station, one hundred 

 and twenty-seven. 



REINDEER STATION. 



On the 29th of June, 1892, I visited the head of Port Clarence, 

 Alaska, in search of a suitable location for the establishment of a rein- 

 deer station. In making a location it was important to take into con- 

 sideration nearness to the coast of Asia, character of harbor, position 

 with reference to future distribution of reindeer, supply of good pas- 

 turage and water. Finding that all these conditions were best met at 

 the watering station of the whaling fleet, on the extreme northeast cor- 

 ner of the bay, near Grantley Harbor, I selected that point for the rein- 

 deer station, and on the same day put up two tents, and landed from 

 the steamer Newport the provisions and supplies for the station. 



In view of the fact that the Hon. Henry M. Teller, of Colorado, as 

 Secretary of the Interior, in the spring of 1885, authorized the estab- 

 lishment of the common school system of Alaska; and also in view of 

 the fact that since the agitation commenced for the introduction of 

 domesticated reindeer into Alaska, he has taken a leading part in 

 securing the needed Congressional legislation, I have named the station 

 the "Teller Reindeer Station." 



Port Clarence was known to the Russians as Kaviayak Bay. It was 



