NINTH ANNUAL REPORT 



INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC RlilNDIiHR INTO ALASKA. 



Department of the Interior, 

 Bureau of Education, Alaska Division, 



Washingtmi, B. C, Decemher SO, 1800. 



Sir: 1 have the honor to submit to you my Ninth Annual Report on 

 the Introduction of Domestic Reindeer into Alaska. 



The 3^ear covered by this report has been one of many changers and 

 stirring events. 



The 67 Laplanders, Finns, and Norwegians and their families who 

 were brought from arctic Norwa}^ in connection Avith the relief of 

 destitute peoples in the mining regions of Alaska arrived at the P^aton 

 Reindeer Station, Unalaklik, July 30, 1898, and on the 31st of Jaiuuiry, 

 1899, they were transferred from the care of the War Department to 

 that of the Interior. Thus there was an unusually large luunber of 

 employees during the year in connection with the reindeer herd. The 

 discoveiy and opening of the Cape Nome gold mines caused a sudden 

 demand for transportation. The services of all the trained reindeer 

 were required, both of the Govermiient and mission herds in the 

 vicinity. The fulfillment of the Government pledge to return to the 

 American Missionary Association mission at Cape Prince of Wales 

 and to Antisarlook and other Eiskimo owners the reindeer wliicli had 

 been borrowed hx the Government in January, 1898, to carry food to 

 the ice-imprisoned whalers at Point Barrow required the return to 

 those several parties of 934 head of reindeer. To meet this large 

 demand Congress made a special appropriation of $20,000 for litting 

 out, under the auspices of the Treasury Department, for the use of 

 the Interior Department, the naval vessel Thetis, in order that said 

 vessel might give her whole time to the transportation of reindeer from 

 Siberia. Through the courtesy of the Treasury Department the United 

 States revenue cutter Bear was also allowed to give some time to 

 securing reindeer. Further arrangements were made with the firm 

 of J. S. Kimball & Co., San Francisco, to procure and deliver reindeer 

 in Alaska for the use of the Government. 



These several enterprises have made the year just closed one of 



great interest and activity. 



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