DOMESTICATED REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 157 



of that moss is of a nice, yellow color, and the deer, heing very particular, eats only 

 the top of this moss. 



I shall he glad to undertake the position as overseer for reindeer in Alaska, having 

 heen used to their habits and wants, and am interested in reindeer and animals in 

 general. I think I can obtain 3 or 4 Lapps from my brother in Norway for about 

 $40 to $50 a month, without board; but am afraid I would have to go and bring 

 them over, as the mountain Lapps, or reindeer Lapps, understand only their own 

 language, and will never be able to learn the English language before they have 

 been years here, and hardly then. Of course you would have to pay their fare from 

 Norway to Alaska. I shall be glad to give you any information regarding this 

 subject, so far as my knowledge goes, whether you accept my proposition or not. 

 So far as I am concerned I am in good health, do not use liquor or tobacco, am a 

 sailor, having my papers as pilot and engineer, and am willing to undertake the 

 position for $1,200 a year, with free transportation of baggage, provisions, person, 

 and family to destination. I refer to the Norwegian minister of this place, Rev. 

 Carl Hael ; also to Mr. Swarthout, president of First National Bank of Everett. Wash. 



With my best respects, I am, 

 Your humble servant, 



Regnor Dahl. 



Dr. Sheldon Jackson, 



Washington, D. C: 



Seattle, Wash., December 24, 1S93. 

 Dr. Sheldon Jackson, 



Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C: 



In reply to your advertisement in various journals concerning reindeer-keepers in 

 Alaska I take the liberty to give you the following information: I am born in Fin- 

 inn rken, Norway, and have lived in Vadsoe, and along or about the Varanger-Fiord 

 (rivers) for circa forty years; have owned, kept, and traveled with reindeer over the 

 mountains to Haparanda and Trana-elven (small river), over Karasjak to Altin, and 

 through the Russian Lapmarken, etc., for about thirty to forty winters. I speak 

 Laplandish, Finnish, and the Russian language, besides German, and I have been in 

 America for about eight years. In this city I have resided for four years as profes- 

 sional druggist and doctor (physician). I am 63 years of age and was recently mar- 

 ried here (three years ago). I am married the second time and am in perfect health, 

 and would like to take the position at $1,200, or $100 per month, if things are 

 arranged as they should be in order to accomplish the great object on hand. I 

 have often thought how it could be possible to propagate the reindeer without the 

 proper supervision by night and day with men and trained dogs, as reindeer always 

 attract wolves. 



From the end of the Varanger River over to the Tana River there has been erected 

 a fence of circa 20 English miles in length and 12 feet in height for the purpose of 

 protecting the reindeer from the month of May to October; thus all the herds have 

 to be gathered together upon the Varanger fields, which are 200 miles in length and 

 100 miles in breadth, and then and there the animals are cared for by the owners. 

 and the calves are marked. The fence I had reconstructed some fifteen to sixteen 

 years ago at the expense of the Government, it costing about $800. In the care of 

 reindeer one has also to be on the outlook for sickness and death, and nothing should 

 be done halfways. The young calves have to be looked after in respect to their 

 teeth (they have to be crushed, in a particular way, by biting stones, etc.), other- 

 wise the animals will be too wild. 



My advice therefore is, if I should be appointed, that a few genuine Fjeldlinner 

 (Laplanders), perhaps 4, should be secured from among my acquaintances from 

 Finmark (Sweden). It would be best to have some who are married, and they 



