INTRODUCTION. 



,N my humble opinion, the Coast shooting on the China 

 =^ station, from a naval point of view, is a gigantic fraud. 



I have not the slightest doubt that if one was in a yacht and 

 could choose one's own time ; very good sport might be enjoyed. 

 But in a man-of-war, the ship invariably arrives either a fortnight 

 too early or six weeks too late. 



Of course occasionally a vessel drops into port at the right 

 season ; and then all former disappointments are forgotten, till you 

 have the misfortune to make your next inopportune arrival. 



However I will say one thing for China, and that is, if you do 

 not object to long hard days, and are also content with a moderate, 

 and in some cases a most varied bag ; you can have great fun to 

 make up for all the undoubtedly heavy work. 



What little shooting there is now to be obtained around the 

 Jaapnese Treaty ports is rapidly coming to a close, owing to, I 

 believe, a superfluity of Japanese sportsmen. 



Nowadays it is by no means unusual in a well known place for 

 snipe, or pheasants, to meet dozens of these fellows with their 



