REIMDEEE GRAZIKG INVESTIGATIONS IN ALASKA 



15 



warrant adoption (pi. 7). Bi-an(lin<j;. usually on the flank, is now 

 IteiniT initiated and will undouhtcdly hcconu' a more <renei-al method. 

 A hiand law for Alaska I'ecently adopted provides for the marking 

 or branding of ix'indeer and the registration of the brand or mark. 



NATURE OF THE RANGE 



RANGE BELTS 



There are three distinct range belts of different uses: (1) 

 The inmiediate coast region, including the islands; (2) the far- 

 interior country; and (3) an intermediate region, which may be 

 termed the inland-coast or coastal-valley belt. In the coast region. 



Fig. 3. — Highly succpssful corral of the chute type. It is important that the leadway 

 into the holding pens be constructed on the side of the corral to meet the direction 

 in which the herd mills. The movable wire-burlap fence is very u.seful in cutting off 

 bunches of stocli from the main herd 



the summer range of mostly tundra flats lies immediately along the 

 coast, and the winter range lies inland on the coast uplands of hills 

 and mountains. In the far interior the grazing lands are in the 

 mountains, and the reindeer usually summer on the mountain tops 

 and winter either on adjoining protected and favorably exposed areas 

 or on lower ground near timber line. In the intermediate, coastal- 

 valley belt, as in the Kuskokwim, Yukon, and Kobuk River Valleys, 

 the reindeer may summer either along the valley flats and bench 

 lands or on the mountain tops, and winter in the middle, usually 

 timbex'ed. zone between the upper and lower elevations. 



The chief factors determining the seasonal range areas ai'e (1) 

 forage, (2) exposure, (3) the fly pest, (4) the physical character of 



