CANADA’S REINDEER HERD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 5 October 1936, Page 3

CANADA’S REINDEER HERD

SHOWS HEALTHY INCREASE Far out on the northern rim of the continent officers of the Dominion’s Department of the Interior have completed the annual rdund-up of Caada's reindeer herd, which was driven to the Mackenzie River area from Alaska in a three-year trek. The original herd of 2370 animals has grown to 3750. The annual round-up was completed in August, when the animals were nut through the corrals and counted. The young animals were marked and certain mature steers and aged females surplus to the requirements of the herd were reported to be available for the autumn slaughter. The count showed that in addition to the above numbers of fawns, the herd includes 1762 adult females, 603 yearling and adult bulls, and 444 steers. At the conclusion of the 1935 roundup it was estimated that the original herd of 2370 animals had grown to over 3000. During the winter of 193536 some 300 surplus animals were slaughtered to provide food and clothing for the assistance of natives in the Aklavik region and for other departmental purposes. This year’s total indicates an increase of nearly 1000 in the size of the herd which is considered highly gratifying. The movement of the herd to its winter grazing grounds in the great 6600 square mile preserve was made in early fall. The animals were herded slowly towards the protection of the rolling country in the southern part of the preserve. Here during the long Arctic winter they are tended by the herders in charge, assisted by the native apprentices who have been selected for training as part of the Dominion Government’s scheme of developing among the Eskimos the art of reindeer husbandry.