34 BULLETIN 1089, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the method of handling now employed follows the Old World prac- 

 tices, and these often are built up on superstitious beliefs or old cus- 

 toms, and have, to a large extent, apparently missed the influence of 

 modern ideas. Eeindeer grazing does not differ so greatly from other 

 live-stock handling that the same principles of management are not 

 generally applicable. The improved practices in handling live stock 

 employed in the Western States apply equally in general principles 

 to the handling of reindeer in Alaska. 



Among other things, the Eskimo herd owners greatly need corrals 

 and cabins (PL XIV, Fig, 2) on the grazing areas to promote better 

 herd management. Lack of proper corralling facilities is preventing 

 the accurate marking of stock and the making of counts and owner- 

 ship records of many of the native herds, some of which have not > 

 been counted for several years. Often in the larger bands only a 

 part of the fawn crop is being successfully marked each year, and 

 unmarked yearlings are commonly noted in the herds. Aside from 

 entailing confusion in ownership and leaving an opening for " rust- 

 ling," this lack of corrals otherwise impedes proper supervision. 



Without cabins on the winter range, in many cases the reindeer are 

 held on the same ground along the coast both summer and winter. 

 This, of course, damages the range and jeopardizes the herd when 

 the snow crusts over. Proper winter range lies in the hills back of 

 the coast, where there are protected areas with an abundance of 

 reindeer moss. Consequently, winter quarters should be established 

 away from the coast villages, and this requires the construction of 

 cabins in the hills on the seasonable ranges. 



Unless the reindeer industry is put on a good commercial basis, 

 there will be little incentive for investment in stock, and the herds 

 will be of value only for the owner's individual needs and for a very 

 limited local sale. Consequently, if its greatest development is to be 

 attained, it will be necessary for white interests with capital and 

 initiative to take a leading part. If development of the industry 

 should be confined mainly to the natives, progress will be relatively 

 slow, since, unaided, they have not the ability, knowledge, or means ^ 

 to develop it. I 



SUPERVISION OF HERDS. 1 



In any event, better supervision of the native herds is necessary 

 to care properly for them. Such care and protection is important 

 not only in view of the natives' food and clothing requirements, but 

 also because of the need for meat production to aid in fostering local 

 white enterprises in the Territory. 



The native herds are scattered throughout the present coast range 

 on all grazing units, irrespective of white or native occupancy. Thus 

 reindeer of both natives and whites often graze cooperatively on the 



