| Show 1 r E. E rR II q HARRIET bl L j Reindeer Farming In Alaska Nearly all aU Americans are still close lose enough to pioneer conditions conditions- con if not in actuality In at least in spirit and herItage lo be interested in the development dev of the reindeer in in- industry industry m in Alaska The reindeer reind er were imported into Alaska from Russia during the dec dec- decade decade ade between 1891 1801 and 1902 They were established on the Seward Sev peninsula about peninsula about 1300 of them them and and from that beginning have been de de- developed de- de developed the present immense herds numbering now approximately one million The herds are distributed from fro Point P nt Barrow in the north to Kodiak island the on-the on the south and from the Bering Berm sea inland to Ophir with the heaviest population still on Seward peninsula The original purpose of the im importation im- im importation was to supply food for forthe forthe forthe the Eskimos but the herds have been so successful that it is now possible to export reindeer prod prod- products products products the most important of which are meat and hides Reindeer hides hides' are delicate and pliable and are much used for the manufacture of kid gloves and leather jackets Of course they are also used where they are produced for a variety of purposes such as the manufacture of boots leggings parkas sleeping bags mittens socks and trousers FUTURE OF INDUSTRY Various conditions tend toward stability of the reindeer industry in Alaska For one thing there are in that territory at least square miles of grazing land which is particularly suited to raising rein rein- deer Further when reindeer are I slaughtered for market there is practically no waste in the car car- casses Not only is the flesh including including including ing heart liver and tongue good for fo fa human consumption and ad the hide suited to the manufacture of many necessary articles of apparel but even the antlers bones viscera and blood are used in the preparation preparation preparation tion of food for the dogs which are indispensable in that region and for forthe forthe forthe the foxes raised on various fur farms Moreover reindeer are of gentle disposition and easily handled Ex Ex- Except Except Except in the mating season when the bucks become dangerous it is pos pos- possible possible possible sible to go freely among a reindeer herd just as one would among beef or dairy d 1 rY cattle It I has been said aid by those familiar with them that they flock together like sheep graze more like cattle and in intelligence and activity more nearly approach the horse They become attached att ched to any accustomed range and if moved away will return to it They are good swimmers they graze on the wettest ground and like the moose will frequently wade out into a pond or lake to feed on aquatic plants REINDEER RANCHING Many features common to the rein rein- reindeer reindeer deer country remind the observer of the Old West The reindeer are herded in much the same manner as were the cattle on the old western ranges and are rounded up at inter inter- intervals intervals intervals vals for marking or branding for sorting and for marketing APPEARANCE OF REINDEER The reindeer pictured with Saint Nick have been considerably ly ideal ideal- idealized idealized idealized running mostly to slim legs and branching antlers antl rs Actually the reindeer which is a domesticated ed caribou although symmetrically built gives an impression of ness In color reindeer are brown and gray with head and legs dark and with a white mane Individual animals vary somewhat from this pattern and may even be all white or spotted The average grown full-grown reindeer stands from 42 to 44 inches high The average dressed weight is about pounds infrequently in in- increasing increasing increasing creasing to Both the males and the females bear antlers which are grown and shed each year CALL OF THE TOE WILD For young men and women with the blood of pioneers in their veins with good health and with a will will- willingness willingness willingness to endure the cold cold of of the Arctic and sub Arctic regions reindeer ranching in Alaska has h Js great attraction and promises rea rca reasonable reasonable returns At the present time the reindeer rancher does not have have to depend entirely upon experience experience ence to learn how to manage his herd A Reindeer Experiment Sta Sta- Station Station Station tion was established at College Alaska in 1928 and substations substations are maintained at Nome on island in the Bering sea For additional information send five cents cent of ol Documents Washington Was Superintendent to D C C. asking C for tor Department ol of Agriculture Miscellaneous lous Publications s. s No e SPICED NUTS Sift Slit together three times the fol fol- following following fol- fol following lowing dry ingredients 2 cups con con- confectioners confectioners' confectioners confectioners confectioners' sugar K 9 cup of corn corn- cornstarch cornstarch starch 2 teaspoons te spoons of salt salt 1 tea tea- teaspoon teaspoon spoon nutmeg J 4 cup of cinnamon 2 teaspoons of ginger and 1 table table- tablespoon tablespoon of ground cloves Beat 1 egg spoon white slightly and add to it 2 tablespoons table table- t tablespoons ble- ble of cold water Place in In a spoons wire strainer 1 14 cups of nut nut kernels kernel and dip into the egg mixture until each nut is well coated Dram Drain Dr m the nuts roll them in the spice mixture and ond bake for three hours |
