168 REPORT ON THE INTRODUCTION OP 



to the fact that I, in a letter, can hardly give you so complete and wide-ranging details 

 as I could do if speaking to you in person. 



The Laplanders in Norway usually remain during the summer on the Norwegian 

 mountain ranges (fjelde) and in the winter they move over to the northern parts of Swe- 

 den, the so-called Swedish Lapmarken, because there is better food for the animals. 

 The reasons forthese conditions may be found in the extensive forests which moderate 

 the climate in Sweden, while the mountainous ranges in Norway are bare of woods ; fur- 

 ther, in the fact that in the large forests, consisting of fir and pine trees, there is a great 

 quantity of what we call " lav" (lichen), a certain kind of moss that the reindeerare 

 fond of and which grows upon these trees. Thus, when the snow lies deep and the 

 animals have a hard time in finding food, then the Laplander travels about on hisskees 

 and gathers such food, felling trees in order to obtain this kind of moss. And, whenever 

 the snow is very deep, the Laplander must find water for the reindeer and drive 

 them to the watering place, observing that they have plenty to drink. It frequently 

 happens that these forests harbor a great many wolves, in which case the Lapland- 

 ers suffer great losses among their herds and are actually forced to keep watch by 

 night and day. During the season when the cows have calves (in the latter end of 

 April and beginning of May) it is likewise necessary to watch by day and night and 

 see to the calves. The reindeer generally go for the mountainous tracts as soon as 

 the spring sets in, on account of the numerous insects that infest the swampy 

 forest tracts and because the climate is so much colder on the mountain ranges 

 where the best reindeer mosses are found during the warm season of the summer. 

 Many Laplanders move far beyond the Norwegian boundaries where there are no 

 wolves nor other carnivorous animals, and then they go only once a day, at the most, 

 to gather the herds together and examine if any reindeer have been hurt or to milk 

 them, while during the night no watch is kept. A comparatively small number of 

 Laplanders liveon the Norwegian seashores, toward the Norwegian Sea(Vederhavet) ; 

 during the summer they remain upon the highest mountain ranges and in winter they 

 move away and swim their reindeer over wide stretches of water, sometimes 1 Norwe- 

 gian mile in width, toward the outmost islands, because there is little snow during 

 the winter. 



They do not keep strict watch over them, except in the spring season, on account 

 of the calves. These Laplanders rarely or never carry tents along, as they live with 

 the settlers along the seashore. At this very moment I do not remember any further 

 details of consequence; however, I will say that this mode of treatment of Lapland 

 reindeer, as mentioned above, may not be of practical use for reindeer in Alaska. 

 The climate and the geographical conditions of the country have to be taken into con- 

 sideration. Reindeer that are introduced from western and northern parts of Nor- 

 way do not thrive and can net live under like conditions as the reindeer living in the 

 Swedish Lapmarken. Not having any accurate knowledge of the physical condi- 

 tions of regions in Alaska, I would not dare to recommend my own practical experi- 

 ence. But I hope that the Government has chosen efficient and reliable men who 

 can judge what is best to do. 



In case you should desire any other information on this subject I shall be at your 

 service, and if in future there should be an opportunity for me to go to Alaska as 

 reindeer herder, I trust that you will kindly remember me. 

 Very respectfully, yours, 



Hans Guldfjeld, 

 New London, Kandiyohi County, Minn. 



Pentwater, Minn., February 27, 1S94. 

 Mr. Sheldon Jackson: 



Having received your favor of the 22d instant, and seeing that you wish to obtain 

 some information regarding reindeer breeding and training in Lapland, I will, with 

 pleasure, communicate to you all I know about the matter. First, I will mention 



