Total 20, 000 



130 INTKODUCTIOi!^ OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



The relief expedition, with the herd of reindeer, reached the impris- 

 oned whalers on March 29, 1898, and resulted in the saving of a large 

 numbei" of lives. 



It now remains for the Government to fulfill its pledge and return 

 an equal num1)er of reindeer to the men who gave up their reindeer. 



With the increased work thrown upon the cutter Bear through the 

 inilux of miners at St. Michael, Golovin Bay, Kotzebue Sound, and 

 other points on the northern coast, it will be impossible for that vessel 

 to procure those reindeer in Siberia and transport them to the Alaskan 

 coast. 



I have, therefore, applied for the temporar}" transfer of the U. S. S. 

 Thetix from the Navy Department, to be used as a revenue cutter 

 during the season of 1899 for the procuring of the reindeer and thus 

 fulfilling the promise of the Government. 



The expense of six months'' service of the ship is estimated by the 

 chief of the Revenue-Cutter Service as follows: 



To pay of crew $8, 000 ] Fuel $2, 500 



Rations 1,600 Incidentals 2,800 



Ship chandlery 250 



Engineers' stores 350 



Repairs to ship 5, 000 



I have the honor, therefore, to suggest that an amendment be made 

 to the sundry civil bill, appropriating $20,000, or as much thereof as 

 may be necessary, for the fitting out of the U. S. S. Thetis^ as a rev- 

 enue cutter and employing her in Bering Sea in fulfillment of the 

 Government obligations incurred in rescuing the starving whalers. 



I would further suggest that the same be made immediately available 

 and ask your favorable action thereon. 



Respectfully, vours, O. L, Spaulding, 



Acting Secretary. 

 Hon. Wm. B. Allison, 



CJiainnan Committee on A2)projyriations.i 



United States Seriate. 



APPROPRIATION FOR FITTING OUT U. 8. C. THETIS, SUNDRY CIVIL BILL, 

 APPROVED MARCH 3, 1899. 



For the purpose of repairing and defraying the running expenses of 

 the United States steamer Thetis for a period of six months, said ves- 

 sel to be used as a revenue cutter, and to perform service for the 

 Department of the Interior in procuring reindeer and transporting 

 them to the coast of Alaska, twenty thousand dollars, and the Secre- 

 tary of the Navy is hereby authorized to transfer said vessel to the 

 Treasury Department. 



