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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



THE RACETRACK OE THE REINDEER IS A TRACKLESS WASTE 



"brother' 5 that "lives on its hump," the 

 reindeer draws on its supply of fat in 

 times of want. For long-distance travel 

 the Eskimo prefers the reindeer to dogs, 

 as the former finds its own feed ; not so 

 the dogs. With improvements in har- 

 nesses and sleds, the Arctic "camel" has 

 become more and more popular in a 

 transport capacity. The burden carried 

 on a sled drawn by a single deer should 

 not exceed 200 pounds. 



Surprising records have been made in 

 long-distance travel and also in speed 

 tests. Indeed, for short distances, the 

 deer can outrun the dog or horse. At an 

 annual reindeer fair in Alaska, two deer, 

 pulling a sled and driver, made five miles 

 in 14 minutes 32 seconds, and ten miles 

 in 27 minutes 20 seconds. 



The usual rate of travel on long-dis- 

 tance excursions should be from 25 to 35 

 miles a day, if the welfare of the deer is 

 considered. Even then the deer can only 

 be employed continuously in that fashion 

 for from 15 to 17 days. While traveling 

 it has no chance to graze. When com- 

 pelled to do this at night it loses sleep. 

 In consequence the store of fat which en- 



cases its body and furnishes reserve food 

 and strength becomes exhausted. 



The Eskimo never prods or crowds the 

 deer after it indicates its desire to quit 

 the journey. He unharnesses it and 

 leave's it to find its way back to its herd, 

 which it usually succeeds in doing. If it 

 does not succeed in this, it is likely to 

 join another herd. 



The ownership of reindeer is indicated 

 by ear-marks. By marking the ears the 

 reindeer of the various herds are distin- 

 guished, and annually there is a general 

 reassignment of animals to their owners. 



Several years ago the government 

 asked for bids for mail delivery in Alaska 

 by airplane. Sand-dune and ice-floe are 

 already being traversed by winged mes- 

 sengers whose only footprint is a fleeting 

 shadow. But there will always be a great 

 and increasing need in Alaska for the 

 reindeer — the camel of the frozen desert. 

 Kriss Kringle's steeds will continue to be 

 used in fiction and romance, but to the 

 disillusioned more essentially as an ani- 

 mal of the greatest practical utility, an 

 animal of which it has been said that "it 

 can be used to the last hair." 



