shortness of notice received by China, and the difficulties 

 of collection and transport must be taken into considera- 

 tion in any comparison, if a comparison can be made, with 

 countries accustomed to these competitions, possessing 

 professional experts, public museums and private collec- 

 tions, and able, moreover, from proximity to London and 

 facility of communication, to place their contributions in 

 situ at a very much less expenditure of time, money, and 

 trouble than was incurred by China to do justice to the 

 International Exhibition. 



No doubt there is much superiority in scientific and 

 practical interest, as distinguished from the element of 

 popular attraction, in the contributions from the United 

 Kingdom, the United States and Canada, and the Scandi- 

 navian and other countries, as compared with China ; but 

 the chief points of interest and instruction in the Chinese 

 contribution consist in the types and models, the nets 

 and other implements of distant antiquity, preserved and 

 used to the present day, and shown to be adaptable with 

 the latest resources and developments of science and 

 practical sagacity in relation to the subject matters of the 

 Exhibition. 



The following is a short summary of some of the prin- 

 cipal points or features in the Chinese exhibits, taking them 

 in order of their classification in the Official Catalogue. 



1st. The Bamboo. — Of all the materials used by the 

 fisherman, the bamboo is the one that deserves the first 

 notice. Its cheapness and durability, as well as the variety 

 of purposes for which it is used, entitle it to the highest 

 rank in domestic economy. The use of the bamboo is 

 largely illustrated in the Chinese Collection. There are 

 the catamarans or surf-boats of South Formosa, fishing- 

 rods, supports for nets, crab and prawn pots, fish baskets, 



