44 BULLETIN 1089, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Men are stationed at the various platforms and gates, two on the 
platform at the end of the chute (PL XVII, Fig. 2), to hold back 
the reindeer by catching their horns, in order to prevent overcrowd 
ing at the exit. The chief herder is usually the one stationed a 
the swing gate, and he decides what disposition is to be made of 
each animal as it passes. 
As a rule the Lapps build the corral just over the brofw of a hill v 
so that the reindeer do not see it until they are practically inside 
The animals are driven in through the entrance driveway between 
long wing fences, which in some cases extend out a quarter of a mile 
or more on each side. (PL XVI, Fig. 2.) 
The present slow system of corralling often results in keeping a 
herd in the immediate vicinity of the corral for Ion/? periods, in some 
cases for weeks at a time. This causes undue trampling and dam- 
age to the near-by range and exposes the animals to grazing on con- 
taminated ground, where they pick up large numbers of parasites, 
and further emphasizes the need for improvement. If for un- 
avoidable reasons the improvement advocated can not be made at 
once, the herd should always be driven to the corral by the same 
route, in order to limit as much as possible the damage to the range 
and the danger of parasitic infection. Furthermore, when liberated 
the animals should not be allowed to remain about the corral, but 
should be driven away at once to fresh feed. 
Choice of site and selection of building material are two important 
considerations in constructing the main corral on the summer range. 
It is particularly important to build the corral in a dry place, as it 
is readily apparent that a herd may be handled more efficiently and 
with less danger of injury here than on wet ground. When the 
corral is on wet ground, the tramping of the " milling " animals 
soon converts it into a dangerous mud hole. The best sites along 
the coast are on sandy spits immediately adjoining the beach. 
In the selection of building material, it should be kept in mind that 
a closely constructed corral fence or wall is preferable to an open one. 
There is the possibility of considerable injury to animals in an openly 
constructed corral. When pushed and frightened, reindeer often 
try to break out of the inclosure at any point they can readily see 
through ; and, in the attempt, may get their legs or horns caught and, 
as often happens, broken. Consequently a closely built split-pole 
or board corral is preferable to one constructed of wire or of open 
paneling. 
METHOD OF ROPING. 
The lasso, or lariat, used in Alaska differs from the rope commonly 
seen in the Western States. Reindeer men prefer a flexible cotton 
rope about one-fourth inch in diameter. The eye is made from a 
piece of reindeer horn, and is of considerable weight. The entire 
