Show Alaska's Reindeer Herds Are Growing Rapidly The reindeer herds of ot Alaska now contain more than animals owned by about persons according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to a recent estimate of or the Department of the fue Interior The federal government through its reindeer service staffed by seven seren employees supervises these fuese herds over a vast area from Bristol bay bayto to Point Barrow on the mainland and md also on several islands In addition to lo exercising general supervision over the reindeer herds the Interior department service assists assists assists as as- in keeping ownership records teaches care and management and where possible helps to establish new herds The supervisory personnel personnel personnel person person- nel consists of one general supervisor supervisor supervisor super super- visor and five unit managers with witha a clerk stenographer at The work is such as to require much traveling over long distances distances distances dis dis- by airplane dog sled boat and afoot aroot Reindeer herds are a valuable native industry They provide food and some cash for tor many native Alaskans On account of ot transportation transportation transportation tation and other difficulties and the competition of meat products in inthe the United States Slates reindeer meat has not yet et won more than a minor i place in the American market Territorial Territorial Ter Ter- officials are hopeful however how how- ever that with the development of ot the herds and better transportation 1 9 the opportunities in the American market will be considerably en en- A heavier demand for reindeer reindeer rein rein- deer Is reported from rom other parts of Alaska than those in which reindeer reindeer reindeer rein rein- deer herds are now maintained The Aleutian islanders too want reindeer reindeer reindeer rein rein- deer to supplement their meager resources Few natives can pay the costs of transportation of ot reindeer herds so the territorial government government govern govern- ment when it has the money available available available avail avail- able seeks a wider distribution of ot the reindeer herds |