17() INTKOUUCTION OK DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



l»v (lircctioii of the Secrcttiry of State, to iiu'loso for your information 

 a. copy of a <lispatch on tliesul)j(>c-t from our vice-consul at Helsingfors, 

 Russia. 



1 l.aA'c the lionor to ))e, sir, your obedient servant, 



Thos. W. Ckidlek, 

 Third Assistant Secretary. 

 The Secretary of the Interior. 



Helsingfors, March 31., 1800. 

 Sir: I heo- to acknowledoe the receipt of the Department's dispatch 

 of the *Jth of February, and have made a thorough investigation 

 regarding the feeding of reindeer in our country. I have found that 

 when the reindeer can not have moss they get hay, together with club 

 moss of pine tree (Latin: Usnea), and also hay and lye bread. 

 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



Victor Ek, 

 Vice and Acting Ciytmid. 

 Hon. Tiios. W. Cridler, 



Assistant Secretari/ of St<if(\ Washnn/ton^ T). (J. 



Department of State, 



Washington, April 10, IHOO. 

 Sir: I inclose herewith a report written by Edward D. Winslow, 

 es(i., consul-general of the United States at Stockholm, in regard to 

 the feeding of reindeer in northern Europe, which he has made in 

 compliance with instructions of the Department of State, which were 

 sent to him at the instance of the Department of the Interior. 

 Vei'}' respectfidlv, 



Michael Sc anlan. 

 Acting Cliicf Biirniu of foreign Coinnwrce. 

 Edward M. Dawson, Escj., 



Chief Clerk Depa'rtinent of the Jnt(rior^ Washington, D. C. 



After a very thorough canvass of the matter in regard to the feeding 

 of the reindeer in Sweden, I am abh> to state that the only food given 

 the animals is the ''Reindeer Moss" (Cenomyce rangiferina or Clado- 

 nia rangiferina). 



It is a lichen highly prized ))y the Laps. It is found most abundantly 

 in the arctic regions, almost as luxurious on the ])are rocks as in the 

 soil. It covers extensive tracts in Lapland, making the landscape in 

 the sunnner look like a field of snow. It grows also in the pine forests. 

 This moss (;onsists of a much-branched, erect, cylindrical tubular thul- 



