REINDEER IN ALASKA. 11 



these latter owners, white men have been able to become owners 

 and to enter the industry. 



In the beginning it was no doubt necessary to exclude the white 

 man from ownership in order to insure protection for the native, 

 but since the latter is now well started in the reindeer industry and 

 since there is sufficient room in the grazing areas for both the na- 

 tives and white men, there appears to be no longer any reason why 

 the white man should be excluded. As a matter of fact, white 

 ownership of herds is now needed to assure the desirable economic 

 development of the industry. This is particularly so, since at this 

 stage there is great need for more capital and initiative to establish 

 the means of transportation and marketing necessary to put the 

 industry on a commercial basis. 



INCREASE OF HERDS. 



There, are in Alaska about 100 herds of reindeer, widely distrib- 

 uted from the north shore of the Alaska Peninsula to Point Barrow 

 and from the shore of Bering Sea eastward into the interior above 

 Ruby on the Yukon and to the vicinity of Flat on the upper Kus- 

 kokwim River. Plans are in progress to establish a herd in Broad 

 Pass, on the Alaska Railroad, during 1922. 



The growth of the reindeer industry in Alaska in the period of 20 

 years from 1902 to 1921 shows an annual net increase of about 27 

 per cent, or, taking into consideration the estimated number of stock 

 slaughtered during that period, an annual gross increase of about 

 33^ per cent. This rapid increase from the small beginning in 

 1902 indicates a promising future. Swedish figures for reindeer 

 place the herd profit, or net increase, in normal years at 25 per 

 cent.^ The average fawn crop in Alaska runs between 50 and 60 

 per cent, although the average prolificacy of reindeer is indicated 

 as about 70 per cent, with the highest percentage as 85 to 90. 



As a general rule, in the fawns the relative numbers of the two 

 sexes are remarkably close, practically 50 per cent of each. These 

 figures are of interest as indicating the possibilities in reindeer graz- 

 ing. Under present management there is a wide margin of loss, 

 but under improved methods this can be materially reduced. While 

 the recorded losses in the herds are incomplete, in adult reindeer the 

 annual average is about 6.5 per cent and in fawns about 15 per cent. 

 Losses in adults are largely attributed to diseases and parasites, in- 

 jury in handling, predatory animals (including dogs), and stray- 

 ing; losses in fawns are attributed to desertion by mothers, still- 

 births, predatory animals, and parasitism. 



^ Guinchard, J., Historical and statistical handliook : Swedish Government, Industries, 

 2d ed., Stockholm,, 1914. 



