TRAINING OF DOG TEAMS AND PREPARATION OF DOG SLEDGES FOR THE JAPANESE ANTARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION, 1956-57. PART II

Organization in charge The Polar Re search Group of Hokkaido University, Sap poro, Hokkaido**, headed by Prof. T. INUKAI and sponsored by the Institute of Applied Zoology, Hokkaido University, took charge of the training of the Saghalien dogs as well as the preparation of the dog sledges used in J.A.R.E. 1956-57. Short history of dog sledges in Hokkaido The Ainus, the natives of Hokkido, used not to employ dog sledges of the polar type for transportation on the snow. Saghalien dog sledges were brought into this island from Saghalien in the Meiji Era (1868-1912) by the Yamato race immigrated from the main land of Japan, but were not so extensively used as in Saghalien. As a matter of fact, we had to institute investigations before we could establish the plan of bringing up power ful dog sledge teams for J. A. R. E. Distribution of Saghalien dogs in Hok kaido In 1956, when the preparations for J.A.R.E. were started, we had about one thousand head of Saghalien dogs in Hokkaido, including five hundred kept in Rishiri Island. Most of them had been crossed with southern breeds after being brought in from Saghalieu, but we could find out about one hundred head of fairly good strains. Properties of Saghalien dogs in Hokkaido The Saghalien dog is a mixed breed of polar dogs which came over the frozen seas to Saghalien. It has an appearance resembling to that of the Leica, or that of the Eskimo dog. Typical shape measurements of the Saghalien dogs in Hokkaido are given in Tables 2 and 3. The Saghalien dogs have a yielding temper and an excellent towing capacity, and they withstand long trailwork. They are adapted to bitter cold; they can stay outdoors over night even when the atmospheric temperature is as low as -40 C. Their chief food is fish. Training camp for J. A. R. E. dog teams A training camp was opened in March 1956 m Wakkanai, a small city situated on the northernmost tip of Hokkaido. The selected dogs were gathered there, and the training was started at once. Mr. Naotaro GoTo of Giliak origin was appointed as the chief trainer. Several candidates for J.A.R.E. and * twm:k'.'¥=Jlft:$-1f!5fil)Jq¥:#'1/'.. Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University. ** The northernmost of the four big islands of Japan. One of the natives of Saghalien.