I hope that the small sum required will be voted by Congress as, unless something is done for these people, their annihilation is only a question of a brief period.

The whales have so frightened the big fish that the natives are unable to pursue them in their rapid passage, while the extermination of the walrus is almost a fact.

These remarks I present as requested.

Yours, very truly,

HENRY D. WOOLFE.

II. REPORT ON INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA,

1892.a

By Sheldon Jackson, General Agent of Education in Alaska.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF EDUCATION,
Washington, January 9, 1893.

SIR: In compliance with a resolution of the Senate passed January 6, 1893, directing that the Commissioner of Education transmit to the Senate a copy of the latest report of Dr. Sheldon Jackson on the introduction of domesticated reindeer into Alaska, I have the honor to transmit said report herewith.

-Very respectfully,

The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

W. T. HARRIS,

Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

BUREAU OF EDUCATION, ALASKA DIVISION,
Washington, D. C., January 2, 1893.

SIR: So many inquiries have been made since my return from Alaska concerning the present progress of the plan to introduce domesticated reindeer into Alaska that it seems expedient to make a special report on that branch of the work of the office without waiting for the regular annual report on education in Alaska.

I have the honor, therefore, to submit the following report of progress on the introduction of domesticated reindeer into Alaska:

In the summer of 1890, in accordance with your instructions, I visited northern Alaska and established schools for the arctic Eskimo at Cape Prince of Wales, Point Hope, and Point Barrow. Through the courtesy of the Secretary of the Treasury and of Capt. L. G. Shepard, Chief of the Revenue Marine Division of the Treasury Department, I was permitted to accompany the U. S. Revenue Marine steamer Bear, Capt. M. A. Healy, commanding, on her annual cruise in Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

In addition to conveying me to the points designated, Captain Healy was under instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury to visit the coast of Siberia, and distribute presents to the Koraks around Cape Navarin in return for shelter and food furnished shipwrecked American whalers. He was also under commission from Superintendent Porter, of the Census Office to take a census of the native population along the Arctic coast of Alaska and the islands of Bering Sea, which population could not be reached by the usual enumerators. The trip to Siberia enabled me to make a cruise of 700 miles along that little known coast, and study somewhat the character of the native population under conditions corresponding ith those under which life must be maintained in Alaska. I found them to be a hardy, tive, and well-fed people, owning tens of thousands of head of domestic reindeer.

a Reprint of Senate Mis. Doc. No. 22, Fifty-second Congress, second session, omitting maps and illustrations.

The taking of the census of arctic Alaska furnished me even more extensive facilities for studying the condition of the Eskimo of Alaska. I found them, like their neighbors on the Siberian side, to be a hardy and active people, but because they had never been instructed to depend upon the raising of reindeer as a support, unlike the Siberians, they were on the verge of starvation. The whale and walrus that formerly had constituted the principal portion of their food have been destroyed or driven off by the whalers; and the wild reindeer that once abounded in their country have been killed off by the introduction of breechloading firearms.

The thorough canvass of the native population for enumeration, necessitating a landing wherever even one or two tents were seen on the beach, furnished unusual opportunities for observing the educational needs of that people and learning the great difficulties under which schools will have to be carried on.

Upon my return to Washington I had the honor, on November 12, to address you a preliminary report of the season's work, emphasizing the destitute condition of the Alaskan Eskimo.

On the 5th of December this report was transmitted by you to the Secretary of the Interior for his information, and on the 15th transmitted to the Senate by Hon. George Chandler, Acting Secretary of the Interior. On the following day it was referred by the Senate to the Committee on Education and Labor.

On the 19th of December, Hon. Louis E. McComas, of Maryland, introduced into the House of Representatives a joint resolution (H. R. No. 258) providing that the act of Congress approved March 2, 1887, “An act to establish agricultural experiment stations in connection with the colleges established in the several States under the provisions of an act approved July 2, 1862, and of the acts supplementary thereto," and an act approved August 30, 1890, entitled “An act to apply a portion of the proceeds of the public lands to the more complete endowment and support of the colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts, established under the provisions of an act of Congress approved July 2, 1862," should be extended by the Secretary of the Interior over Alaska, with the expectation that the purchase, improvement, and management of domestic reindeer should be made a part of the industrial education of the proposed college.

The resolution was referred to the Committee on Education, and on the 9th of January, 1891, reported back to the House of Representatives for passage. (See Appendix A.) It was, however, so near the close of the short term of Congress that the resolution was not reached.

When it became apparent that it would not be reached in the usual way, the Hon. Henry M. Teller, on the 26th of February, moved an amendment to the bill (H. R. No. 13462), making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1892, appropriating $15,000 for the introduction of domestic reindeer into Alaska, which was carried. The appropriation failed to receive the concurrence of the conference committee of the House of Representatives.

Upon the failure of the Fifty-first Congress to take action, and deprecating the delay of twelve months before another attempt could be made, with your approval I made an appeal in the Mail and Express of New York City, the Boston Transcript, the Philadelphia Ledger, the Chicago Inter-Ocean, and Washington Star, as well as in a number of the leading religious newspapers of the country, for contributions to this object. The response was prompt and generous; $2,146 were received. (Appendix B.)

As the season had arrived for the usual visit of inspection and supervision of the schools in Alaska, you were kind enough to direct that in addition to my regular work for the schools, I should continue in charge of the work of transporting domesticated reindeer from Siberia to Alaska. As the natives of Siberia, who own the reindeer, know nothing of the use of money, an assortment of goods for the purpose of barter for the reindeer was procured from the funds so generously contributed by benevolent people in answer to the appeal through the newspapers.

The honorable the Secretary of the Treasury issued instructions to Captain Healy to furnish me every possible facility for the purchase and transportation of reindeer from Siberia to Alaska. The honorable the Secretary of State secured from the Russian Government instructions to their officers on the Siberian coast, also, to render what assistance they could, and on May 25, 1892, I again took passage on the revenue cutter Bear, Captain Healy in command, for the coast of Siberia.

The proposition to introduce domesticated reindeer into Alaska had excited widespread and general interest. In the public discussions which arose with regard to the scheme a sentiment was found in some circles that it was impracticable; that on account of the superstitions of the natives they would be unwilling to sell their stock alive; further, that the nature of the reindeer was such that he would not bear ship transportation, and also that even if they could be purchased and safely transported the native dogs on the Alaskan coast would destroy or the natives kill them for food. This feeling, which was held by many intelligent white men (Appendix C), was asserted so strongly and positively that it was thought best the first season to make haste slowly, and instead of purchasing a large number of reindeer to possibly die on shipboard, or perhaps to be destroyed by the Alaskan dogs (thus at the very outset prejudicing the scheme), it was deemed wiser and safer to buy only a few.

Therefore, in the time available from other educational duties during the season of 1891, it seemed important that I should again carefully review the ground and secure all possible additional information with regard to the reindeer, and, while delaying the actual establishment of a herd until another season, that I should determine the correctness of the objections that the natives would not sell and the deer would not bear transportation by actually purchasing and transporting them.

The work was so new and untried that many things could only be found out by actual experience.

First. The wild deermen of Siberia are a very superstitious people, and need to be approached with great wisdom and tact.

Upon one occasion, when Captain Healy purchased a few reindeer for food, the following ceremonies were observed: When getting ready to lasso the deer the owner's family seated themselves in a circle on the ground, where probably some rites connected with their superstitions were observed. Upon attempting to approach the circle, I was motioned away. After a short time the men went out and lassoed a selected animal, which was led to one side of the herd. The man that was leading him stationed himself directly in front of the animal and held him firmly by the two horns. Another with a butcher knife stood at the side of the deer. An old man, probably the owner, went off to the eastward, and placing his back to the setting sun seemed engaged in prayer, upon the conclusion of which he turned around and faced the deer. This was the signal for knifing the animal. With apparently no effort, the knife was pushed to the heart and withdrawn. The animal seemed to suffer no pain, and in a few seconds sank to his knees and rolled over on his side. While this was taking place the old man before mentioned stood erect and motionless, with his hand over his eyes. When the deer was dead he approached, and taking a handful of hair and blood from the wound, impressively threw it to the eastward. This was repeated a second time. Upon the killing of the second animal, the wife of the owner cast the hair and blood to the eastward.

Since then I have often observed the man who was selling a deer pluck some hair from the deer and put it in his pocket or throw it to the winds for good luck.

If a man should sell us deer, and the following winter an epidemic break out in his herd, or some calamity befall his family, the Shamans would make him believe that his bad luck was all due to the sale of the deer.

Second. The Siberian deermen are a nonprogressive people. They have lived for ages outside of the activities and progress of the world. As the fathers did, so continue to do their children.

Now they have never before been asked to sell their deer; it is a new thing to them, and they do not know what to make of it. They were suspicious of our designs. And in reference to this state of mind I have found that being on a Government vessel has been of great assistance. It impresses the natives with confidence that they will be treated honorably and justly. This moral effect was so great that we secured results that otherwise could not have been obtained so easily.

Then Captain Healy, commander of the Bear, is well known for thousands of miles on both sides of the coast, and the natives have confidence in him. With a stranger in command I am confident that but little would have been accomplished in the summer of 1891. Purchasing reindeer in Siberia is very different from going to Texas and buying a herd of cattle. In Texas such a sale could be consummated in a few minutes or hours. But in Siberia it takes both time and patience.

Upon the anchoring of the ship in the vicinity of a settlement the natives flock aboard, bringing skins and furs to exchange for flour, cotton cloth, powder, lead, etc.

Once aboard they expect to be fed by the captain, and bucket after bucket of hard bread is distributed among them. They know perfectly well that we are after reindeer, but nothing is said about it. They have to be feasted first. They are never in a hurry, and therefore do not see why we should be.

After a little small presents are judiciously given to the wife or child of a leading man, and when everyone is in good humor a few of the leaders are taken into the pilot house and the main subject is opened. After much discussion and talking all around the subject one man is ready to sell twenty and another perhaps only two. After all is arranged the leading men send their servants off after the deer, which may be in the vicinity or four or five days' journey away. Sometimes these delays consume a week or more at a place. Another difficulty arises from the fact that they can not understand what we want of the reindeer. They have no knowledge of such a motive as doing good to others without pay. As a rule the men with the largest herds, who can best afford to sell, are inland and difficult to reach.

Then business selfishness comes in. The introduction of the reindeer on the American side may to some extent injuriously affect their trade in deerskins. From time immemorial they have been accustomed to take their skins to Alaska and exchange them for oil. To establish herds in Alaska will, they fear, ruin this business.

Another difficulty experienced was the impossibility of securing a competent interpreter. A few of the natives of the Siberian coast have spent one or more seasons on a whaler, and thus picked up a very little English. And upon this class we have been dependent in the past.

It is very desirable that a native young man should be secured and trained as an interpreter who could be employed regularly, year after year.

However, notwithstanding all these difficulties and delays, Captain Healy with the Bear coasted from 1,200 to 1,500 miles, calling at the various villages and holding conferences with the leading reindeer owners on the Siberian coast. Arrangements were made for the purchase of animals the following season. Then, to answer the question whether reindeer could be purchased and transported alive, sixteen were purchased, kept on shipboard for some three weeks, passing through a gale so severe that the ship had to "lie to," and finally landed in good condition at Amaknak Island, in the harbor of Unalaska, having had a sea voyage of over 1,000 miles.

Thus the results of investigations for 1891 were:

First. The cultivation of the good will of the Siberians.

Second. The actual purchase of sixteen head of reindeer.

Third. That reindeer can be transported with the same facility as other domestic cattle, they being safely loaded, kept on shipboard for three weeks, and landed in good condition a thousand miles away.

ED 1904 M -70

Upon my return to Washington in the fall of 1891 the question was again urged upon the attention of Congress, and on the 17th of December, 1891, Hon. H. M. Teller introduced a bill (S. 1109) appropriating $15,000, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, for the purpose of introducing and maintaining in the Territory of Alaska reindeer for domestic purposes. This bill was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, Hon. Algernon S. Paddock, chairman. The committee took favorable action and the bill was passed by the Senate on May 23, 1892. On the following day it was reported to the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. A similar bill (H. R. 7764) was introduced into the House of Representatives by Hon. A. C. Durborow and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

On April 15, Hon. S. B. Alexander, of North Carolina, reported the bill to the House of Representatives with the approval of the Committee of Agriculture. (Appendix D.) The bill was placed on the calendar.

On the 2d day of May, 1892, I started for my third summer's work on the coast of Siberia and arctic Alaska in the U. S. S. Bear, Capt. M. A. Healy commanding.

In accordance with your instructions, all the time that could be spared from the schools was given to the establishment of the experimental reindeer station.

Upon reaching Unalaska, May 22, I was much encouraged to learn that the reindeer left last fall on Amaknak and Unalaska islands had wintered successfully and were in good condition with an increase of two.

We reached Cape Navarin, Siberia, on the 6th of June, and proceeding north called at various points on the coast. Our progress was greatly hindered by heavy fields of ice. The good ship had two anchors ground up and one of the blades of the propeller broken off by the ice. Upon several occasions we were so surrounded that the propeller was stopped and the ship moored to the ice. A less stanch vessel would have been unable to stand the strain. However, during the season, five trips were made to Siberia, and 175 reindeer purchased, brought over, and landed at the head of Point Clarence, which, being the nearest good harbor to Asia on the American side and a central point for the distribution of deer, I had selected, June 29, as the location of the first reindeer station.

The first installment of deer, numbering fifty-three, was landed at the new station at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July.

Mr. Miner W. Bruce, of Nebraska, was appointed superintendent of the station and herd, with Mr. Bruce Gibson, of California, as his assistant. (Appendix H.)

Upon the establishment of the experimental reindeer herd at Port Clarence, it became important to gain information concerning the surrounding country.

To secure full and reliable information with reference to pasturage in the vicinity of Bering Straits, I had the previous season employed Mr. W. T. Lopp, teacher at Cape Prince of Wales, to make two trips northward along the coast in midwinter (1891-92), when the moss might be expected to be covered with ice and snow (see Appendix E), and in the fall of 1892 sent Mr. Bruce Gibson, assistant superintendent of the reindeer station, with a party of natives, to the northward of Port Clarence (see Appendix F), and a few weeks later Mr. Miner W. Bruce, superintendent of the station (see Appendix G).

These several reconnoissances proved both the abundance of moss and its accessibility for winter pasturage to the new station.

A comfortable house, 20 by 60 feet, was erected as a residence for the superintendent and his assistant, and also for the storing of the annual supply of provisions and barter goods.

Close to the main house two comfortable dugouts were built for the use of the herders. Four Siberians, well acquainted with the management of reindeer, were brought over and placed in charge of the herd. With the Siberians were placed a few young men from the Alaskan Eskimo, who are expected to learn the management and care of the herd. The present expectation is to increase the number of Alaskan boys, who shall become apprentices to the herders, and when they have sufficiently learned the business and proved their capability to take care of reindeer a small herd will be given each one as his start in life.