88 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



crops : the second, economical, for the deer 

 is always marketable, though it is difficult 

 to see where the "chance" is when deer are 

 freely sold in the Shanghai market at from 

 $1.50 to $2.50 a piece, which covers the by 

 no means insignificant profit of the native 

 market man. 



A characteristic but rather cold blooded 

 way in which the native circumvents deer 

 may sometimes be seen on the Yangtze 

 River. The northern end of the Poyang 

 lake which debouches on to the river at 

 Hukow is fringed with long flat reed beds, 

 intersected by short cuttings which practi- 

 cally make them small islands. Herein 

 after their nocturnal feed on the mainland 

 the deer seek quiet and safety during the 

 day. With this knowledge the natives, 

 having cut off retreat from their quest, 

 proceed to beat the covers, which are easily 

 reached in their shallow boats. Driven to 

 extremes the deer take to the water, where 

 as often they are stunned by the heavy 

 bamboo as they are killed with the native 

 favorite load of mixed iron shot. And, 

 doubtless, similar systems obtain in other 

 parts of the country. 



