INTKODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDKER INTO ALASKA. 157 



door down iit any tiino this spring- I wish yon wonld do so. PU'ase 

 advise nic if you think it will be possible for you to freight the goods 

 up th(>r('. 



Yoni's truly, 



L. B. Shepherd. 

 Dr. F. H. (tamkeel, 



iSajM-rhitcndtnt Rcivdar Station^ Katon^ Ahixhi. 



North Amerk^an Transportation and 

 Tradino C'ompany, Merchants and Carriers, 



ILahj, Alaska, March m, 1890. 

 Dear Sir: Wc air sending yon the 300 pounds of rolled oats, the 3 

 stoves, and the ])alanee in baeon, as per your letter. 



We have no native ])erries of any kind, nor have we had any. Trust- 

 ing this will be satisfaetory, we remain. 

 Yours, very truly, 



L. B. Shepherd. 

 Di'. F. n. CJambeee, 



Superintendent I'n/ted /States Reindeer citation ^ Eatcm., Alaska. 



KEPORT OF MR. HANK SUMMERS, SIX'RETAKV OF ALASKA I'lONEER 

 ASSOC^IATION, ON REINDEER. 



[Froin tlie Sitka Alaskiiii, < ).-t()licr 2.\ IS'J'.I.J 



Mr. Hank vSunnnei's, for fifteen years a resident of northern Alaska, 

 was a guest of the otiieers of the Bear on his way to Seattle, from 

 whieh place he will go East for the winter on l)oth busines.s and 

 pleasure. Mr. Summers is well known in Alaska, especially in the 

 noi'thern portion, and lias spent his time there in prospecting, mining, 

 transportation, and in the employ of the commercial companies and 

 Govcn'nment. When seen T)y an Alaskan reporter Mr. Sunuuers \xiy 

 willingly consented to })e interviewed. 



When asked what he thought of the nnndeer exix'riment. he said: 



The reindeer are tlie salvation of that northern countrv. I have uskI all kinds of 

 animals that eould he gotten into that eonntry; but J will never use anything else 

 hereafter hut I'eindeer. They are just the proper animal for our use, and the (Tovern- 

 ment did wisely when it acted on the suggestion of Dr. Sheldon Jackson and secured 

 the reindeer. They are breeding quite rapidly and find an alnindanceof food. This 

 food is a white moss that grows in a (;old, barren country where there is no other 

 vegetation, and not in a wooded country like southeastern Alaska. In fact they 

 would not do very well in this part of the Territory. 



"'•How do the natives take to the reindeer'^' thc^ reporter incjuii-ed. 



They are more than delighted with them; and why siiould they not l)e? They 

 furnish them with the best mode of conveyance they have ever had on land. They 

 furnish them with milk — a luxury they have never had before. The flesh keeps 



