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Show UNCLE SAMTS iLl'''f?''l A m'y. m:::m: m :- ? : ' - i mm-y' .Tf i : m:--m, tm HERD OF REINDEER fTTS HE herding and breeding of do-f do-f mesticated reindeer, Introduced Intro-duced as an experiment a 11 number of years ago with animals ani-mals imported from Siberia by the government, has now become the most prominent feature of the industrial in-dustrial education of the Eskimo and the main activity of many native villages vil-lages of Arctic Alaska, writes W. L. Beasly in Scientific America. The progress In civilization that hasbeen made by lifting up the natives formerly former-ly living as savages and eking out a precarious existence by hunting, with, no other domestic animal than the cleg, to the estate of civilized, self-supporting self-supporting herdsmen, as accomplished through the reindeer industry. Is a remarkable re-markable educational achievement. The Alaska Reindeer Service has now reached its most successful stage, as it marks the beginning pt the period of full utilization of all the reindeer owned by the government for the benefit bene-fit of the native population. At the present time there is hardly a surplus government reindeer north of the Kus-kowin Kus-kowin river This has been made possible pos-sible by the establishment of new reindeer rein-deer stations, the employment of more natives as chief herders, by accepting the largest practical number of apprentices, ap-prentices, and by transferring reindeer to both chief herders and apprentices, in lieu of salary or supplies, the chief aim and fundamental policy of the government being to turn the reindeer over to the natives as rapidly as they learn the Industry and appreciate Its value. The total number of reindeer in Alaska at the last census was nearly 23,000, and of this number, over 11,000 are owned by the natives. One of the most striking and gratifying features Is the large Income which the natives derive from the sale of reindeer products, pro-ducts, their share for. the past fiscal year having been $18,000 and over. The amount does not Include the value of the reindeer skins used for clothing, nor that of the meat consumed con-sumed as food. These material bene- fits and the very considerable Income thus derived demonstrates the fact that the reindeer Industry has become one of the most prominent factors in the economic life of the Eskimo The total number of Alaskan reindeer Is distributed In herds among 28 stations, 18 of these being owned by the government gov-ernment and 10 by church missions. The Lapps own over three thousand. The natives are very anxious to get deer, and look upon them as a safe Investment for their earnings, and usually take dfer In preference to cash for services, when an opportunity opportun-ity is offered The government does not sell deer; this Is done by natives and missions alone. The various missions mis-sions are furnished a herd of 100 deer on loan for a period of five years by the government. Mission Keeps Increase. Atthe end of this time the original number must be returned. The mission mis-sion keeps the Increase of fawns, which amount to several hundred, derived de-rived from the government loan. The Moravian mission of Bethel has one of the largest herds, nearly three thousand. thous-and. Other missions having over one thousand deer, all in Arctic Alaska, north of the Yukon, are located at Golovln, Kotzebue, Shlshmaref and Cape Wales. At Barrow, latitude 71 deg. 25 mln., the most northern point on the American continent, there is a herd of 300 The total population here la about 400 men, women and children. One native, Takpuk. Is considered the richest rich-est man of that region, as he owns a herd of 137 reindeer. The missions support and educate a number of young apprentice herders. The native herders also take on apprentices and award them six deer a year In payment pay-ment for their services. The Laplanders Lap-landers take a loan of deer for five years from the government, and give their services as Instructors for that period. At the end of five years the Lapp returns the 100 deer and becomes be-comes an independent herder himself with the large Increase of reindeer he has obtained from the herd. The Lapj herders are not Interested In the ex tension of the reindeer among the na tlves. Some of the largest owners o: deer are Lapps, some half a dozet of these men having accumulated herds of from five to nearly eight hun dred. In Introducing the reindeer as a means to pro-note the Industrial life and to provide a permanent live lihood for the Eskimo, it has beer found necessary by the government tc put the young natives through s course of training. Those who get their deer directly from the govern ment, serve an apprenticeship of five years. There are several hundred ol these at present. They are bound by a written contract, the strict terms of which they cannot violate without peril of losing their annual allotment of reindeer and suffering discharge from the service. This caring for training and breeding the deer is an education in itself, and the best which the government could give to the young natives. With careful training the Eskimo boys make excellent herders. herd-ers. They readily learn how to take care of the reindeer, to throw the las so, to harness and drive the deer, and to watch the fawns. Siberian herders were first Imported to teach them, but of late years the more intelligent and efficient Laplanders, who have learned by centuries of experience the breeding breed-ing of reindeer, were secured. The Eskimo boys take quickly to some phases of the work and in some respects re-spects excel the Lapps; they can lasso better than the Lapps, and many become be-come experts in making harness and sleds. The minding of the herd requires re-quires constant vigilance, especially m the spring, during the fawning season. sea-son. Then the herders have to keep watch day and night by turns with the rifle to protect the herd from ravages rav-ages of the Arctic wolf and dogs. Mark to Deslflnate. In the ear of each government deer a little, aluminum button is fastened securely, and all private owners and herders have a mark which must be registered with the local superintendent superinten-dent of the reindeer station and also at Washington. Besides being taught the art of deermanship, the apprentices appren-tices are instructed In keeping accounts, ac-counts, the methods of marketing rein deer, and in other practical matters connected with the Industry. As this herd will double Itself every three years, the graduate apprentice will have a herd which will afford and assure a self-supporting income quite enough to satisfy the economic wants of himself and family In the future. He Is thus established In business by the government and is given free pasturage pas-turage thereafter. The reindeer .produces .pro-duces one-fawn In the spring each year for 10 years. Among the useful and profitable products of the reindeer are the skins for clothing. Of these pelts most varied use Is made. From them are fashioned the tight-fitting trousers and that wonderful outer garment, gar-ment, the "parka." universally worn in winter by both male and female na tlves and by many whites. The "parka" extends to the knees and has a close-fitting close-fitting hood, which keeps the head and shoulders comfortably warm even In the severest weather. These reindeer garments are remarkable for their excellent ex-cellent qualities of resisting moisture and cold. A close examination of the hair of the reindeer furnishes an explanation ex-planation of Its peculiar value. The hair Is not merely a hollow tubular structure, with a cavity extending throughout its entire length, but is divided, di-vided, or partitioned off. Into exceed ingly numerous cells, like watertight compartments. These are filled with air and their walls are so elastic and at the same time of such strong resistance resis-tance that they are not broken up either eith-er during the process of manufacture or by. swelling when wet. The cells expand In water and thus It happens that a person completely in garments made of reindeer wool does not sink when in water. |