4 BULLETIN 1423, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
ownership of reindeer is concerned, in having the privileges of both 
the Eskimo and the white man. The native Eskimo rates high in 
intelligence, but is somewhat lacking in initiative and managerial 
ability. Moreover, since reindeer grazing to him is often merely 
of secondary consideration to hunting or fishing, as a grazier lie 
requires constant and direct supervision. If the reindeer industry 
depended upon the unaided efforts of the Eskimo it would be lim- 
ited in scope. To obtain the best results in range and livestock 
management and to perfect a desirable grazing scheme and develop 
the industry on a large scale calls not only for capital but for busi- 
ness ability of a higher order. 
A recent count indicates that about a third of the reindeer are 
owned by white men, including several Lapps, and the remainder 
by Eskimos. One large incorporated company at Xome owns be- 
tween 45,000 and 50,000 animals in six herds. Through this white 
ownership definite efforts have been made during the past few 
years to place the industry on a commercial basis. 
REINDEER AS GRAZING ANIMALS 
Reindeer on the range most closely resemble cattle, but band 
together more like sheep. Like horses they trample over much 
range in nervous feeding, but, unlike horses, usually travel against 
the wind. In winter they paw through the snow with the forefeet 
to reach lichens and other forage. During the summer they move 
about considerably over the range, and at times cover distances of 
15 or 20 miles against the wind. In winter they graze over a com- 
paratively small area, and remain for the most part in one general 
locality. At fawning time the herd divides, the does grouping by 
themselves and the bucks, steers, and some of the yearlings banding 
together elsewhere. 
Reindeer become attached to their accustomed haunts, and once 
well located on a range will unerringly return to it if moved away. 
In one case, several adult animals were transferred from one herd 
to another over a distance of 200 miles, and the next year were found 
back in the original herd, in spite of the fact that there were five 
other herds between the two places. Unless restrained the reindeer 
instinctively seek successively their favorite fall, winter, or summer 
pastures. Such reindeer pests as mosquitoes, horseflies, and warble 
flies are an important factor in the choice of summer pasture, as 
they cause the reindeer to resort to the wind-swept areas along the 
coast, or the ridges and mountain tops of the interior. 
Reindeer are excellent swimmers and take readily to water. In 
Norway it is commonly reported that herds are made to swim as 
far as 8 or 10 miles from the mainland to some island for summer 
pasturage. They graze well on the wettest ground and frequently 
may be seen wading out into ponds to feed on the pond vegetation. 
In Alaska the typical summer range of the coast is often a wet 
tundra of hummocky ground (niggerheads) with many ponds and 
sloughs, and over range of this character the reindeer graze with 
apparent ease. They are fleet of foot and seem to travel as readily 
over the niggerheads as over ground more level and firm. 
