8o Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



age, that one is really introduced to those villanous half-brothers 

 the Siberian mosquito and sand-fly. 



But bad and worrying as these pests are on shore, shooting 

 you must go. 



Sport is certainly not very great ; but there are deer in fair num- 

 bers, a few duck, tree grouse, pheasants and quail scattered about, 

 and an occasional blackcock : and snipe are either to be found in fair 

 quantities ; or on the contrary are conspicuous by their unaccount- 

 able absence. For instance in the third week of August '87, there 

 was not a bird in the place ; but in the fourth week of the same 

 month of the following year, over fifty couple were bagged by a 

 single ship in two half-days. 



The most likely grounds for snipe ; are up the sides of the big 

 blind creek, at the head of the bay ; and also on the islands 

 between this creek, and the mouth of the Tiakanco river. 



It is as well to know, that although the creeks dividing these 

 islands appear any depth, they have a firm bottom, and are easily 

 fordable. 



The favourite haunts of the deer, within easy reach, are the 

 plains running up each side of the TiakancD river, and in the small 

 valleys running in at the foot of the hills. The walking in these 

 valleys is very bad, and the long holding grass excessively tiring, 

 but they are the most likely places, especially in the middle of the 

 day, and perseverance is certain to give you a shot or two. 



