ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
17 
A SLED DEER WITH ALASKA ESKIMO DRIVER 
gested that reindeer herding be taught to the 
Indians living to the eastward of the Eskimo 
country, at least in such regions as have suitable 
grazing ground. The cultivation of the reindeer 
may extend in time to the Arctic prairies of 
Canada, which may, with Alaska, become the 
source of a food supply equal to that formerly 
derived from the great stock ranges of our 
western states. 
In western Alaska, with the distribution 
among the Eskimo already accomplished, atten¬ 
tion will be given to breeding and to develop¬ 
ing an American market for meat. 
Much meat is used in Alaska, but there is an 
increasing surplus to be exported to the United 
States. The first shipments, made in 1914, 
consisted of refrigerated meat which sold at 
twenty to thirty-five cents a pound. Larger 
shipments have since been made at better 
prices, those of 1920 aggre¬ 
gating one hundred and 
fifty tons. In 1921 a larger 
supply was available, part 
of which was not marketed 
owing to transportation dif¬ 
ficulties. 
Where the reindeer have 
been distributed, the eco¬ 
nomic independence of the 
natives is already estab¬ 
lished. The value of this 
domesticated animal to the 
natives cannot be overesti¬ 
mated. The reindeer is a 
present source of food and 
clothing harness and leath¬ 
er, horns for knife handles 
and other implements, hair 
for mattresses. As for trans¬ 
portation, that should be a 
chapter by itself. 
The effect of reindeer 
possession upon the minds 
of the people is most valu¬ 
able. They regard it as a 
safeguard against starva¬ 
tion. Many of them have 
experienced famine. Teach¬ 
ers in Government schools 
in northwestern Alaska may 
be quoted as saying “The 
reindeer feature is our great¬ 
est success;” “We have noth¬ 
ing else that can compare 
with it;” “We fall back 
upon the reindeer industry as a reliable means 
of support for the Eskimo;” “We are now 
laying stress upon the technique of the indus¬ 
try ;” “The three r’s are four r’s in Eskimo 
schools, to include Reindeer.” 
The reindeer work has been in the hands of 
the teachers in both Government and mission 
schools and has evidently been well handled 
from the start. The original importations 
across Bering Strait, beginning in 1892, did 
not exceed 1,280 reindeer. From these small 
beginnings the herds have increased to more 
than two hundred thousand animals, not in¬ 
cluding one hundred thousand males killed in 
the meantime for food and clothing. 
A recent development among the natives is 
the annual reindeer fair, which has created a 
spirit of union, a thing much needed bv the 
DOMESTICATED REINDEER, NOME, ALASKA 
