34 BULLETIiSr U23, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



upon instead of cabins, and where the herder must carry his sup- 

 plies and equipment on his back in liikinfi" over the range, there can 

 be no efficient herding or rounding-up of stock. When the herder 

 must carry his own pack, the time he can spend out on the range is 

 limited, and consequently on a large range he may fail to bring in all 

 the stock at a round-up. Furthermore, hiking with a pack over 

 Alaska tundra is grueling work and consequently not conducive to 

 the best results. By using pack reindeer to carry his supplies, there- 

 fore, the herder's task is made easier; he is able to stay out on the 

 range a long time; and by being able to cover his range thoroughly 

 he is assured of a complete rounding-up of all stock. The use of 

 permanent cabin camps, well situated to cover all parts of the range, 

 is also an important aid in this respect. With supplies stored at 

 these camps, the herder can conveniently work his range by patrol- 

 ling between cabins and by working out from them during the 

 round-up. The cabins also provide a comfortable abode and make 

 reindeer herding a more attractive occupation. 



SUMMARY 



The stock of 1,280 reindeer imported from Siberia into Alaska 

 between the years 1892 and 1902 has increased to approximately 

 350.000. not including about 125,000 utilized for food and clothing. 

 The annual gross increase in herds is between and 45 per cent. 

 About a third of the Alaskan reindeer are now under white and two- 

 thirds under Eskimo ownership in individual and company herds. 

 One incorporated company owns about 50,000 reindeer in six herds. 



In the two years 1924 and 1925 reindeer meat Aveighing more 

 than 1,000,000 pounds was exported from Alaska, and a steady in- 

 crease in the output and in the demand for it is indicated. The 

 meat is fine-grained, compares favorably with beef, and when fresh 

 is exceptionally juicy and tender. 



A rapidly growing industry re(iuires that scientihc studies be 

 made for its best development, and under congressional authoriza- 

 tion such studies were begun by the department in 1920 through the 

 Biological Survey. Improved methods have been recommeniled to 

 herd owners for handling reindeer and utilizing the range, and in- 

 vestigations on these lines are being continued, with the reindeer 

 exjx'rimeut station of the Biological Survey at Fairbanks as a 

 center. A study of range units is l)eing made with the view to inau- 

 gurating a permit system of grazing allotnients. (\u-eful and con- 

 tinuous insjiection will be required to determine whether an area is 

 being under or over gi azed. 



Of the two types of reindeer in Alaskan herds, the long, rangy type 

 is usually heavier and better for meat production. Tlie di-esscHl 

 weight of a carcass averages 150 pounds, with ;50() pounds as the 

 maximum. Expei'imenls in the development of a heavier type are 

 being conchicted on Xunivak Ishind tluough crossbi'ceding with 

 caribou bulls captured in the interior of Alaska and transported to 

 the ishind for the pui'pose. 



The use of sled I'eindeei- is recouunendod for herd management and 

 other trans])ortati()n uses, and studies have been made in breaking 

 and training the animals and in feeding them on other than a lichen 

 diet. 



