REINDEER IN ALASKA. 41 



animals, and must be avoided if the best results for the herd are to 

 be obtained. Where there is no central management and lack of 

 concerted action in handling herds among the various owners, the 

 tendency is for frequent round-ups throughout the year for the con- 

 venience of individual owners, without regard to the common interest 

 or the welfare of the herd as a whole. 



In a systematic business management of the herd, round-ups will 

 be reduced to a minimum and the necessary handling of the animals 

 planned to fall as far as possible into three main periods: (1) a 

 spring round-up for counting, marking, and castration of fawns; 

 (2) a fall round-up for cutting out steers for market; and (3) a 

 winter round-up for separating breeding from nonbreeding ani- 

 mals. Round-ups between these periods, unless absolutely necessary, 

 should be avoided. 



In fixing the round-up periods consideration should be given to 

 :the time of year that the herd may be handled with least injury. 

 The spring round-up should take place early in June prior to the fly 

 season, which begins toward the end of the month. The fall round- 

 ip should be during the period that the animals are in best condition 

 for butchering, and when handling is practicable ; this is generally 

 at the close of the summer grazing and after the rutting period. 

 The winter round-up (PI. XVI, Fig. 1) should be in the fore part of 

 Dhe season, since toward the end of winter the females are heavy 

 vvith fawn and consequently should not be disturbed. When a round- 

 ip is to take place, all interested parties should be duly notified. If 

 m individual fails to avail himself of the opportunity to cut out or 

 )therwise handle liis stock, he should not be permitted to have a 

 ;pecial round-up later for individual work. 



CORRALS. 



The corral method generally employed at present is to rope in a 

 Ipmde brush or pole inclosure on the open range. This usually in- 

 volves handling the herd for a long period, often requiring two or 

 jihree weeks, and as a general rule results in considerable losses of 

 [liinimals injured or kiUed outright. If these losses are to be elimi- 

 nated, roping must be reduced to a minimum and as much of the 

 [aandling as possible done in a corral arranged with separating pens 

 Imd chutes. In any case, greater care must be taken in handling the 

 jinimals. 



On most allotments two corrals are used, one on the summer and 

 Itnother on the winter range. The main corral is on the sunimer 

 pnge and is usually built near or on the beach, ordinarily of drift- 

 wood, brush, and green poles, or sometimes lumber, wire, and burlap. 

 |)n the winter range a brush corral is usually constructed. The 



