PHYSICAL CONDITION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REINDEER 
During the course of the study twelve reindeer were shot from 
representative sex and age groups within the population. These 
animals were examined to determine their physical characteristics 
and well being. Body and antler measurements and weights were ob- 
tained and examinations were made for parasites and other pathologic 
conditions. All animals collected were in excellent physical condi- 
tion. Fat deposition was particularly noticable in the large bulls 
but actively growing yearlings and lactating cows were also in good 
flesh with mesenteric, subcutaneous and intermuscular fat present. 
Subcutaneous fat was pink in all of the specimens, indicating that 
fat anabolism was taking place. The two large bulls collected had 
fat layers on their rumps three to four inches thick. Hadwen and 
Palmer (1922) list October as the period when reindeer have attained 
their maximum fat reserves. Weights and measurements, taken from 
the animals collected, are shown in Table 4 The weights of all of 
the reindeer collected are greater than the average weight range 
listed for reindeer from other Alaska herds. 
Also conspicuous among these animals was the very large and uni- 
form antler growth on all sex and age groups. "Trophy size" antlers 
were common among the large bulls. The measurements from the three 
large bulls compare favorably with caribou antler measurements and 
these were by no means the largest animals present. Figures 5 
through 10 show the range of antler development on some of the rein- 
deer specimens collected. 
No warbles, nose bots or other external parasites were found in 
the specimens collected. Although the l2 animals collected is admit- 
tedly a small sample, this indicated absence of warbles and nose bots 
corresponds with conditions on St. Lawrence Island where the reindeer 
herd was free of these parasites for several years after its estab- 
lishment (Hadwen and Palmer, 1922). ‘The original stock was moved 
to St. Matthew Island in August when it is most likely all the bot 
fly and warble grubs had left the reindeer and egg laying had not 
started. Mr. Fred Chase (letter), Nunivak Island reindeer manager, 
has suggested that climatic conditions, rather than isolation, may 
be the important factor on St. Matthew Island in keeping the animals 
free of insect parasites. 
All reindeer specimens examined were free of parasites of the 
lungs and liver and complete examination of the digestive tract of 
four reindeer failed to reveal parasites. Again, the extremes in 
weather conditions on St. Matthew Island may be detrimental to the 
completion of the exoteric stage of the life cycles of some internal 
parasites. Of course, there are many parasites which are not elim- 
inated by climatic extremes and these are quite likely present in 
the herd but might not be found in healthy animals. The significance 
a 
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