Sporting Notes in the Far East. 179 



HONGKONG. 



On first scanning the high island and hills that surround the 

 beautiful and immense harbour of our " Eastern Gibraltar," a 

 stranger is apt to exclaim, what a wretched looking country for any 

 shooting ! but if he condescends to read these notes meagre as 

 they are, he will preceive that at certain times of the year, there is 

 more sport to be got within easy reach of Hongkong, than he might, 

 at first, be possibly led to believe. 



The season lasts from early August, to late in January. 



CASTLE PEAK AND DEEP BAYS, are the best districts ; and snipe, 

 quail, and a few partridges, form the principal spoil, while occasional 

 curlew, plover, and pigeon, give variety to the bag. 



DI:KP BAY, takes the lead for snipe; September, October, and 

 early November, being the best months The bay lies nineteen 

 miles by sea from the anchorage, and can be reached by a steam 

 launch (steaming the whole distance in smooth water) under three 

 hours hire for the launch five dollars per diem. 



CASTLE PEAK BAY, only twelve miles off, is preferable for quail 

 and partridges ; the long grass growing at the foot of the hills here, 

 affording splendid covert, though bad walking. After the paddy is 

 cut, towards the end of October, the best bags -of quail will be 

 made ; as many as fifty couple of these tiny little game birds, 

 being not an uncommon day's performance for a couple of guns. 



