REINDEER HERDS .DEVELOP . FASTER THAN PREDICTED.
Estimates made of the potential value of the reindeer industry
in Alaska has been home out hv experience’ and the most enthusi
astic forecast predicted for some ten or fifteen years hence have
already come true according to Ralph Lomen of the Lomen reindeer
interests at Nome, who is a visitor in Juneau.
The remarkable developement of the industry is its noticeable
feature, the number of animals in the last quarter of a century
having grown from 1280 to 300,000 at the present time, plus 125,000
whisht have been slaughtered, said Lomen.
At the present time the bulk of the reindeer herds are located
in the second division 'with the Kuskowim country second and the
Broad Pass district having a small herd.
The Lomen operations are confined to the Seward Peninsula and
Nunivik Island, 300 miles south of Nome in the Bering Sea. The
company has been in the business ten years and have probably led in
the developement of the industry. "It is only now the industry has
reached a paying basis and has assumed such proportions as to be
recognized as one of Alaska's leading industries”, said ftir.Lomen.
"During the past year we have killed 4,000 animals for- distribu
tion throughout the United States. Reindeer meat is now a known
quantity with the leading hotels and cafes of the east with New
York City, Washington, Chicago, St.Paul and Liinneapolis each con
suming a liberal quota.
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transportation and distribution both of which can easily be over
come when the industry has developed enough to warrant refrigera
tor steamers and refrigerator cars for distribution in the states."
The question of transportation was overcome in one instance by
driving a herd of 2,400 animals 200 miles across Seward Peninsula
to Golovin, being an open shipping point for a greater period of
the season. "The Eskimos own approximately 75 per cent of all the
deer in Alaska and represent practically 1,000 individual# owners",
Mr.Lomen said. "This has been an important factor in the develop
ment of the Eskimo, having carried him from the stage of Nomadic
fisherman to that of individual proprietor. Perhaps no other influ
ence has been of greater value to the Eskimo".
The Lomen interests own herds at five points along the coast of
the Bering Sea, ranging from Kotzebue to Unakleet, At each point
there has been erected a cold storage plant and modern methods of
handling, similar to methods employed by western cattlemen.
"Contrary to general belief that the reindeer are a timid and
wild creature we have found them in our long experience to be the
re verse", said Lomen. With constant herding and care the animals
become as domestic or even more domestic than the western cattle.
"The future of the reindeer industry in Alaska is indicated by
the following which'I quote from the report of a survey made by the
United States bureau of Biological Survey in 1922. It says: "The
reconnaissances alre&dy made indicated that the Territory has avail
able grazing siffi'cient to carry between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000
reindeer. The annual surplus would yield a meat product worth more
than the precious metals mined in the Territory and second only to
the fisheries as a permanent income-producing asset”.
Mr.Lomen came overland from Nome to Henana by dog team in company
with J.J.Elliot, representative to the legislature. The trip was
made in about 28 days and was generally fair with no severe hard
ships. After reaching Henana Lornen made the trip into Fairbanks
thence south making a tour of each town on the way to Juneau, as
this is his first visit in the railroad belt and along the southern
coast. He is on a visit to the states and expects to leave Seattle
June 2nd, on the Victoria going direct to Nome.
-Daily Alaskan. Empire.