124: REPORT ON THE INTRODUCTION OP 



REQUEST FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF CAPT. M. A. HEALY, U. S. REVENUE 



MARINE. 



Department of the Interior, 

 Bureau of Education, 

 Washington, April 24, 1891. 



Sir: During the last session of Congress a resolution (H. R. No. 258) 

 extending to Alaska the benefit of the laws encouraging in the several 

 States and Territories instruction in agriculture and the mechanic arts, 

 was considered and reported favorably by the House Committee on 

 Education, but failed to be reached on the calendar. The matter is so 

 important that the resolution will be again introduced next session. 



It is hoped that by this means the domesticated reindeer of Siberia 

 may be introduced into Arctic Alaska, both to increase the present 

 insufficient food supplies for the Eskimos, and to create a new and 

 profitable industry which will insure their self-support. 



I am informed that Capt. M. A. Healy, of the Revenue-Marine Serv- 

 ice, during his regular cruise this summer in Bering Sea and the 

 Arctic Ocean, will have occasional opportunities of securing informa- 

 tion with regard to the practicability of procuring and transporting 

 the domesticated reindeer from Siberia to Alaska. 



As such information will be valuable in connection with the proposed 

 legislation, I respectfully suggest that the Secretary of the Treasury 

 be requested to authorize Capt. Healy to make such inquiries, as far as 

 is consistent with his regular duties, and to report upon the same on 

 his return. 



Very respectfully, 



W. T. Harris, 

 Commissioner. 

 The Secretary of the Interior. 



MEMORANDUM CONCERNING THE PURCHASE OF DOMESTICATED REIN- 

 DEER. 



The U. S. Revenue-Marine steamer Bear, Capt. M. A. Healy, commander, is under 

 orders to cruise this summer in Bering Sea aud the Arctic Ocean. 



Permission has heen granted by the Secretary of the Treasury to Dr. Sheldon 

 Jackson to accompauy the Bear on its cruise, and thus afford him an opportunity of 

 visiting and inspecting the schools of northern and western Alaska. 



These duties will necessarily take him close to the Siberian coast, where with but 

 little extra labor he can procure the domesticated reindeer, with which a commence- 

 ment can be made in stocking Alaska. 



To accomplish this it is proposed that the Bear on its way northward should call 

 near Capo Tchaplin or Walan, Siberia, and assist Dr. Jackson in purchasing from 



