| Show R 0 n d r provia B 00 n t rt alaska 0 herds unknown 33 yea years rs ago now number with value washington feln reindeer deer have taken displace place of the whale seni and walrus i as food IW in alaska according to tile the bureau of education of tho the deportment department of the interior it la Is estimated that there are about reindeer with a valuation of in alaska thirty three years ago there was not a single reindeer in alaska tile the bureau of education said at that time the alaskan Es eskimos klinos wore were eking out a precarious existence upon tte the few whale sea seal and walrus that they were able to catch or sheldon i jaclson united states ce agent agen t of education in alaska was then making a tour of the important villages along alaskan and siberian shores and across the bering strait but it a few miles away with climate and country exactly the same there were tens teho of thousands of mine reindeer supporting tho thousands of natives funds were Fi raised alsed to washington doctor jackson brought the matter to the attention of the commissioner of education and a fund was raised by private subscription to introduce the reindeer in alaska out of a sum of some 2140 tho the ner purchased 10 16 reindeer ta in 1801 1891 and in 1892 1802 in siberia end and brought them to alaska across bering strait since then congress has baa made annual appropriations ranging from to with tte the result that aliese small herds have multiplied until the total number iber of reindeer has now reached the latest figure it Is 18 estimated that there are ln in northern and western laika over WO OW square miles of treeless regions that are worthless for agricultural purposes because of the ex extremely cold climate but which will furnish pasturage for at least reindeer irom from which can be drawn a 0 armen tremendous id ous meat supply besides being used tor for meat the reindeer ore are used b by r jad to furnish milk their skin provides clo clothing tIling and bedding and in the frigid winter season asan ili they 1 byhre are used for rapid communication between scattered villages natives instructed A systematic instruction of the natives in the herding of reindeer la Is now carried out by the bureau of education the plan consists of selecting young eskimos ns as apprentices for a term of four years during which they are instructed in the herding of the reindeer at the end of ench each year they tire are given a prescribed number of reindeer upon the satisfactory termination mi of their apprenticeship the lie natives ves become borders and asquine entire clif charge irge of their herds in order ia to 0 stife safeguard guard the reindeer industry the regulations of the bureau of education forbid the disposal of female reindeer to other than natives of alaska there ure are restrictions regard regarding hig their being killed for meat |
