have become Christians has changed the disposition of the settlement. Over 100 of the people are now, in the judgment of the missionary, genuine Christians.

A good work has been done, and the indications that it will have steady progress are encouraging.

The above include the reports submitted to me by the various missionary organizations at work in Alaska.

Very respectfully, yours,

SHELDON JACKSON,

United States General Agent of Education in Alaska.

The COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT ON THE INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

BUREAU OF EDUCATION, ALASKA DIVISION,

Washington, D. C., December 20, 1902.

SIR: I have the honor to submit to you the twelfth annual report on the introduction of reindeer into Alaska.

The year 1902 has been a prosperous one for the reindeer herds in Alaska. During the spring 1,654 fawns were born and during the summer 30 deer were purchased, which, added to existing herds in the country, makes a total of 5,148.

These reindeer are distributed as follows: 646 loaned to missionary stations of the Presbyterian, Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran, Moravian, Friends, and Roman Catholic denominations; 499 loaned to 5 Laplanders; 1,025 are the property of the Congregational, Swedish Evangelical, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran, Moravian, Friends, and Roman Catholic mission stations; 2,609 belong to 44 Eskimo herders, and 369 are still remaining in the Government herd to be hereafter loaned.

In connection with the herds are 27 Eskimo apprentices learning the care and management of the deer.

The winter of 1901-2 was a favorable one for the reindeer industry. While it was the coldest since 1894 (44° below zero at Teller), there were few prolonged storms. The snowfall was light, and there was no thaw during the fall that resulted in covering the moss with ice, as was the case the previous year, hence the reindeer had easy access to the moss under the snow. The spring came unusually early and was mild and dry, which was favorable during the fawning season.

Personnel.-Local superintendents: Samuel R. Spriggs, Point Barrow; Robert Samms, Kotzebue; W. T. Lopp, Cape Prince of Wales; Tolef L. Brevig, Teller; Dr. Edgar O. Campbell, Gambell (St. Lawrence Island); O. P. Anderson, Golofnin; Axel E. Karlson, Unalaklik (Eaton); Adolf Stecker, Kuskokwim; Julius Jetté, Nulato. Assistant: William Albert Egan, Gambell. Laplander teachers: Alfred Salmonsen Nilima, Kotzebue; Nils Klemetsen, Teller; Per Larsen Anti, Gambell; Isak Andersen Bango, Nulato; Nils Persen Bals, and Per Nilsen Bals, Kuskokwim.

Eskimo herders and apprentices:

Point Barrow: Pokpuk, Segevan, Paneoneo, Otpelle, Ungawishok, Powun, Panigeo, and Ingnoven.

Kotzebue: Minungon, Oghoalook, and Okamon.

Cape Prince of Wales: George Ootenna, Stanley Kiv-year-zruk, James Keok, Thomas So-kwee-na, E-nung-wo-uk, Frank I-ya-tunkuk, Ib-i-ou-o, Sin-rok, Karmun, Oblee, Ong-na-look, Masoak, Ok-nak-look, and Te-o-mok.

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Gambell (St. Lawrence Island): Sepilla, Putlkinhok, and Pinink.

Teller: Coxrook, Kozetuk, Serawlook, Zoolook, Neeluk, Ablikak, Sekeoglook, Erlingnuk, Ahmahkdoolik, Dunnak, and Nunahzarlook.

Golofnin: Constantine, Toktok, John Aungadligak, Albert Pawame, and Benjamin Jutmans; Mrs. Dexter.

Eaton: Okitkon, Tatpan, Nellagoroak, Stephan Ivanoff, Mary Antisarlook, Kotoak, Angalook, Sagoomuk, Aseebuk, Avogook, Ann Kravinik, Chipeu, Beekunan, Oochacktoak, and Moses.

Nulato: Stephen Annu, Alexander Kulana, and John Rorondelel.
Kuskokwim: Wasili and Robert.

STATIONS.

Point Barrow.-From the statistical table it will be noticed that the reindeer herd at this station is increasing in numbers. The whole region abounds in moss and there is no difficulty with regard to pasturage. The main drawback in the past has been a northeast blizzard, that has come invariably as the fawning season commenced. This year, during the fawning season, the wind blew a gale and the snow filled the air so as to make it almost impossible to keep track of the fawns at all. In time a more sheltered location will be found in this region of the country to which the herd can be driven in the spring. During last season the herd that was at Point Hope, owned by two native herders, was driven north to Point Barrow and combined with the herd at that place, making a total of 623 head. They arrived on Thanksgiving Day.

Kotzebue. This station was established on the 16th of December, 1901, by the arrival of a herd of deer which had been set apart and started from Teller reindeer station the previous 11th of November. After the arrival of the herd Mr. Alfred Nilima, the Lapp in charge of the deer, selected a winter pasturage east of the Noatak River where there was plenty of wood for camp use and protection afforded the deer by the broken country. Fawning began on April 20, and on the next day the herd was driven across Hotham Inlet on the ice to the peninsula, where the herd was kept during the summer. On May 2 Alfred Nilima, the principal herder, was married to Alice F. Fruhling, an Eskimo woman educated at the Friends mission. Cape Prince of Wales.-Since the commencement of this herd, in 1894, to the present year it has been under the charge of Mr. W. T. Lopp, missionary of the American Missionary Association at Cape Prince of Wales. Owing to the necessity of educating his children, Mr. Lopp felt compelled to resign his position and return to the States. His place has been taken by Mr. Hugh J. Lee, of Meriden, Conn., who, with his family, has removed to the station. The herd has been kept about 40 miles northeast of the cape. Eight of the herders of this station are self-supporting.

During the year 60 deer were lost through disease and accident, 36 butchered, and 11 sled deer sold. According to the herders, 501 fawns were born. Ten died from unknown causes and 12 from desertion by young mothers, leaving 479 living fawns. If the count is correct the net gain for the year is 206, making the herd number 987. In changing watches in foggy weather the herders think they may have failed to count a number of fawns, so they feel safe in saying that they have at least 1,000 deer in the herd. Attempt was made in September to count and mark all the deer, but a series of rainstorms prevented completion of the work.

This mission has long since returned to the Bureau of Education 118 deer which formed the nucleus in 1894. This number, now 987, is what remains to the mission. Report from Gambell (St. Lawrence) is to the effect that they are proud of their reindeer, after seeing those at Teller reindeer station and on board the Progress and this year on the Bear. Okhtokiuk, one of the three apprentices who were with the herd during the preceding winter, was discharged by Mr. Egan because of repeated absences from the camp without leave. In his place Mr. Egan had secured Peniu,

formerly a resident of Indian Point. The boys have done fairly faithful service during the entire winter.

Mr. Sara was an entire year with the herd and not a single deer was broken to harness or halter; he had kept the herd so near to the house that the moss was eaten very close, so that the sled deer had to be picketed some distance from the house and the herd kept even farther away. Per Larsen Anti, the Laplander, has done good service. His first request was for posts for staking the deer used on the sleds. These were driven in the ground early in good locations, so when the ground froze the stakes were solid.

As soon as the snow came two deer, named Donder and Blixen, were caught and put through the various stages of breaking. Anti noticed the tug was chafing the hind legs, causing the deer to pull sideways and often turn around. The tugs were then wrapped in deer or sheep skin. When the first two had learned so much that the most that they needed was practice Anti caught two more, and when these had learned a little the first two were turned loose and two new ones caught. In all nine deer have been more or less broken or trained. One of these was very wild and so plunged at his rope that he threw himself backward, breaking his neck. Another was thoughtlessly tied to the stake rope of a second deer and became entangled and choked to death. A third was overloaded in soft snow by Putlkinhok, a rushing, heedless apprentice, and his back strained, causing death in a few weeks.

Two sets of harness have been made, and five pack saddles. Moss was gathered to feed when at the station and also for sick deer.

The herd passed through the winter very successfully until March and April, when the snow froze so hard it was difficult to get at the moss.

The winter quarters will have to be moved to some place nearer good staking ground and feeding ground, and at the same time it is wanted as near the station as practicable, on account of delivering rations. The establishment of small cabins at various points over the island is recommended, so that the herd could be kept more closely around the herders' house, and have the herders living in the midst of the herd, the food to be carried to these cabins from either the mission or from a main station easily accessible by boat.

The October and November rations were sent at one time last year by boat, so that when December ration day arrived there was snow enough to sled. The April and May rations were sent down by sled, so that the June ones could be delivered by boat. It is believed the material for the walls of these cabins could be collected from driftwood along the north shore of the island.

Fawning began April 22 and continued throughout May. From 40 does more than 1 year old we had 38 fawns, 3 dying from accidents and 2 from other causes. Four fawns were from last year's fawns, of which 3 died in the cold.

Sepillu promises to make a good deer man; he is also very neat, and is far more thoughtful than the average young man of St. Lawrence Island. The other two boys are not so promising, though they will improve.

Teller Reindeer Station.-The winter was the coldest since 1894, but proved very fine weather for the reindeer. There were few hard storms; the fall of snow was light, and there was no thaw during the fall or early winter to cover the pasturage with a coating of ice. The spring came unusually carly and was mild and dry, hence no fawns were lost because of cold and wet weather. Of the 276 fawns born, 240 lived. During the winter the herd was pastured on the Ahgeeopuk River, 6 miles below the usual winter quarters. During the summer they were kept 7 miles northwest from the station. From the Government herd at this station during the winter of 1901-2 two herds were sent to Kotzebue Sound, one for the Friends' Mission and the other for Alfred Nilima. Leaving the station November 12, they arrived at Kotzebue on December 16, 1901. On January 15, 1902, a herd of 100 reindeer was loaned to Per Spein and sent by the way of Golofnin Bay to Eaton Reindeer Station. On the 224 of July the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Mission at this station

loaned to Serawlook, Erlingnuk, and Ahmahkdoolik, apprentices, each 10 deer from the mission herd.

Golofnin. If present plans are carried out the herd at this station will be increased during the winter by the addition of a herd loaned to Nils Klemetsen by the Government and also by the addition of the herd of Tatook, which is to be removed from Eaton to Golofnin.

Eaton (Unalaklik).—The herd has wintered as usual at South River, where they were driven early in November. At this place during the year a house was built by Ole Bahr for himself and family and a second house for the use of the native herders, jointly. Late in March the herd was driven from their winter quarters to the fawning ground on the east side of Shaktolik Bay, and, after fawning, were driven to their summer pasturage on Reindeer Peninsula. On December 6, 1901, the herd loaned to the Roman Catholics was started for its destination at Nulato in charge of Isak A. Bango. On the 10th of February, 1902, Per Spein, with his herd from Teller, arrived at this station, and on the 27th of February the herd of Mary Antisarlook arrived from Synrock. These two herds were combined, under the care of Mr. Spein, and driven to good pasturage near Tolstoi Point. During the year several Laplanders have been at this station, and the relations between them and the native herders have been entirely harmonious. Here, as elsewhere on the Bering Sea coast, the winter has been unusually pleasant, and spring came early and was free from wet, stormy weather.

One corner of the foundation of headquarters building seemed to be giving away, and arrangements were made for its repair.

Nulato. The herd received from Eaton in December, 1901, was pastured during the winter at Nelenorotaloten, 2 miles below Nulato, on the banks of the Yukon. In the spring, before the breeding season commenced, they were driven to Rodo'oye, one of the western summits of the Kayar Mountain Range, 40 miles south of Nulato. Kuskokwim.-This herd is kept in the mountains 100 miles distant from Bethel, the principal mission station. The distance from the station created some difficulty in sending provisions to the herders. The difficulty, however, will probably be overcome hereafter by transporting to the herd the provisions during the winter, when they can be transported by reindeer teams and sleds.

PURCHASE OF REINDEER.

In the fall of 1901 a report was published in the newspapers that the Russian Government had prohibited the further exportation of reindeer from Siberia to Alaska. Lest this prohibition should interfere with the proposed purchases of this Bureau, a request was made through the proper official channels to the Russian Government to allow the purchase of 300 head during the summer of 1902. This request was granted, with the proviso that payments for the reindeer should be made in coin instead of barter goods, as in former seasons.

When the revenue cutter Bear reached Baroness Korf Bay, northern Kamchatka, Siberia, large herds of reindeer were found grazing in the vicinity, and the nomadic owners were ready to sell a large number. But when they learned that the ship had no flour, calico, tobacco, housekeeping utensils, etc., to exchange for their deer, having never had any money in circulation among them and being unacquainted with either its uses or value, they declined to trade, and but 30 deer were secured. I would respectfully suggest that an attempt be made to secure from the Russian Government such a modification of the terms that hereafter the United States may use barter goods instead of the coin when purchasing reindeer from a people who have no knowledge of the use of coin.

INSPECTION.

Last spring a communication was received from the collector of customs, Sitka, Alaska, calling attention to the law requiring that all animals imported from Asia