REINDEER IN ALASKA. 37 



area used. Unless the herd is constantly watched material losses are 

 sure to result through straying. 



Keindeer herding is now done entirely on foot, mainly by natives 

 and Lapps, commonly aided by dogs (PI. XIV, Fig. 1). One or 

 two herders go out each day from a central camp to watch the herd, 

 sometimes remaining out over night. The herd dogs are generally 

 of small size and compare quite unfavorably with a good cattle or 

 sheep dog. Improvement in the breed of reindeer dogs is desirable 

 and would aid greatly in attaining better herding. 



For bands numbering on the average from 1,000 to 1,500 head, 

 usually three herders are employed, with extra help during the mark- 

 ing season. Herds numbering from 2,000 to 5,000 require a herd 

 superintendent, a chief herder, and three good herders during the 

 greater part of the year, with extra help to insure fast work at 

 marking and butchering time, usually 20 or 25 men for a few days. 



Salting. — Salting, said to represent the best herder the cattleman 

 has, is considered as offering the greatest possibilities for maintain- 

 ing a proper distribution of cattle on the range, and it is believed 

 that it may likewise be developed as a major factor in controlling 

 reindeer grazing. By its use, considerable improvement in the 

 distribution of stock and utilization of range is made possible. 

 Reindeer salting will be similar to salting cattle and the same prin- 

 ciples should apply. 



Reindeer are very fond of salt, and when neld along the coast 

 they get it during the summer season by drinking the sea water or 

 licking up the deposits on the beach. Along with the fly pest, this 

 undoubtedly serves as an important factor in urging them to the 

 coast during the summer months. 



The salting now being done on a small scale in Alaska by a few 

 of the white reindeer owners is with crushed rock salt. This is 

 placed on the range usually by scattering handf uls on rocky ground. 

 On one allotment in the summer of 1921 a small amount of experi- 

 mental salting was begun, using both the crushed rock salt and the 

 block salt. The owner reported that so far he has found that the 

 reindeer are very fond of the crushed salt, but that they scarcely 

 touch the block salt. This may be significant as indicating that 

 it may be found necessary to use crushed rock salt exclusively for 

 reindeer. Salt in both forms will be thoroughly tried out in the 

 experimental projects undertaken by the Biological Survey. If 

 found equally acceptable to the animals, block salt would be pref- 

 erable as being more convenient to handle and transport. Crushed 

 rock salt would probably require troughs to use it in an economical 

 manner. 



Fencing — Open herding and necessary control between adjoining 

 grazing units, particularly on the summer range, may be facilitated 



