INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC KEINDEEK INTO ALASKA. 23 



season but 159, which were given to tlic American Missionary Asso- 

 ciation at Cape Prince of Wah^s. The delay in replacing- the full num- 

 ber of deer required still further obligated the Government to take 

 into account the natural increase during the spring of 1895.). This 

 increased the number to be paid to the American Mjssjona^'v Associa- 

 tion to 714, less the 159 delivered in 1896, and to Aiitiskrloolf ^i^, 

 aggregating 1,042 head for which the (.xoVernment is liable. This is' a 

 striking illustration of the rapidity of increase of the herds. In Jan- 

 uary, 1898, 425 were loaned to Mr, Jarvis, and in July, 1899, two 

 fawning seasons having intervened, 1,042 head w-ero required tc^caiicjc^l 

 the obligations of the Government to the above-named parties. This 

 was so large a number it was felt that unusual preparations should be 

 made for securing a largely increased importation over that of pre- 

 vious years, when the greatest number procured has i)eoifi less than 

 200 head in any one year. Accordingly, on the 24th of January, 1899, 

 the Commissioner of Education addressed a letter to the honorable the 

 Secretary of the Interior, which was duly transmitted to- the honor- 

 able the Secretary of the Treasury, requesting that instructions be 

 issued to the commanding officer of the revenue cutter Bear authoriz- 

 ing him to receive on })oard the general agent of education in Alaska, 

 and proceed to cruise along the coast of Siberia northward for the 

 double purpose of securing additional information with regard to 

 Siberian herds of reindeer and for the purchasing of the reindeer. In 

 reply the honorable Secretary of the Treasury stated that owing to 

 the increase of business in Alaskan waters caused by the present min- 

 ing excitement the Bear would be unaljle to devote the time necessary 

 to the work of obtaining the reindeer, and suggested that Congress be 

 asked for an appropriation for fitting out the naval vessel Theth^ which 

 had been condemned as unserviceable for naval duty and yet would be 

 seaworthy for a trip like the one proposed. Accordingly the Secre- 

 tary of the Interior, with the cooperation of the Secretary of the Treas- 

 ury, applied to Congress for an appropriation of $20,000 for the fitting 

 out and support of the Thetis for this season's cruise in Alaskan waters. 

 This appropriation was granted and the Thetis was placed in commission. 



On the 1st of May, when we were expected to sail from San Fran- 

 cisco, steam being got up, it was found that the boiler tubes were 

 leaking badly and that it would be necessary to replace them before 

 proceeding; these repairs were at once ordered by the Tri'asury 

 Department. These repairs, however, would delay the sailing of the 

 vessel so long that it would be impossible to make the trip proposed 

 to lower Kamchatka, and the cutter Be<ff\ that was ready to sail, was 

 substituted for the Thetis between Petropavlovsk and Bering Straits. 



To still further increase the number oji-^cws^mrchased, and as the 

 coast to be visited was much greater tiiuirany/^i^k vessel could effi- 

 ciently inspect during the few months ghat.th.oiiiB s^fC^'es would be free 



,^,^^, , ll 'DISCARDED 



OOPY I 



