REINDEER IN ALASKA. 69 
SUMMARY. 
Alaskan reindeer are derived from the original importations of 
1,280 animals from Siberia by the Bureau of Education during 11 
vears beginning in 1892. In 30 years the herds have increased to 
irom 130,000 to 200,000, and probably 100,000 additional have been 
killed for meat and skins. It is estimated that grazing areas in 
Alaska will support from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 head. The herds are 
owned chiefly by natives, for whose use they were originally im- 
ported, but white men have gradually acquired stock, and under their 
management the conditions of both their own herds and those of the 
natives should improve. 
From a preliminary survey of grazing, range, and herd manage- 
ment and of diseases and parasites, made possible under an appro- 
priation which became available on July 1, 1920, it is evident that the 
development of the reindeer industry requires white supervision, 
with proper markets, improved transportation and cold storage fa- 
cilities, grazing on the system of allotted ranges, improvement of 
herd management, enactment and enforcement of a brand registry 
law, and the control of diseases and parasites. 
Efficient range management involves attention to the carrying 
capacity of the range, with an avoidance of both overgrazing and 
undergrazing, the former being detrimental to the reindeer and the 
latter being wasteful. 
Company herds are advocated, in which ownership of does shall be 
the basis of dividends and of cost assessments. 
Distribution of the herds over the range may be improved by 
salting. Line fencing between range allotments may in some cases 
be advisable, but this will not take the place of efficient herding. 
The experiment of crossing reindeer does with caribou bulls is con- 
templated for grading up the stock and increasing weights. Old 
and scrubby does as well as the same quality of bucks must be elimi- 
nated and better bucks must head the herds to increase the average 
size of the fawns. White reindeer are deficient in vitality and size, 
and while an aid in locating a herd, are undesirable and should not be 
permitted to breed. 
Rough handling of herds in round-ups and corrals must be elimi- 
nated to lessen accidents and fatalities. 
Notching ears as a means of identification is unsatisfactory and 
if possible should be superseded or accompanied by branding. 
Dehorning reindeer was tried without success. Castration of bucks 
after the velvet has been shed causes the horns to drop. Modern 
methods of castration should take the place of those heretofore prac- 
ticed by the Lapp and Eskimo herders. 
