Lassos have been generally used among reindeer herders who belong to various ethnic groups, from Scandinavia to East Siberia, to catch domestic reindeer. An ordinary lasso is made of a cord with a noose formed by means of a toggle on one end. In this article, function, making process and structure of reindeer lasso is examined from field observation, research in collection of Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples and literatures. From my field observation in Sakha Republic, in eastern Siberia, lassos are used in order to catch reindeer for draft, milking, veterinary treatment, slaughter and so on. To make lasso, tanned reindeer skin is cut in about 1 cm wide to make strap, and 4 straps are plaited together to make a cord. Then a toggle made from horn of Siberian bighorn is attached at one end of the cord. Inspection of 6 lassos possessed in Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples reveals that length of them is from 908 to 3623 cm long. Cords of them are made of seal skin, plaited reindeer skin and vegetable fibers, and toggles are made from reindeer antlers, horns of Siberian bighorn and metal. According to the literatures a lasso is usually composed of seal skin or plaited reindeer skin cord and a toggle made of reindeer antler or horn of Siberian bighorn. These findings indicate that the lasso is a unique tool to catch reindeer alive, and in general its cord is made of seal or reindeer skin, and a toggle is from reindeer antler or horn of Siberian bighorn. The bearded seal skin is thought to be the best material for lasso cord. For inland herders, it is difficult to get seal skin, however they can obtain it through trade with the coastal sea hunters. On the other hand reindeer skin is common material for herders. Because reindeer skin is thin and weak, herders seem to plait straps of it to make strong cord.
