Kyoto, May 201H, 1907. 

 Dear Sir : — 



Twenty years have clasped since I began to collect shells in this country. For this purpose, I 

 have sent my assistants to almost all parts of Japan — from Hokkaido in the North as far as Formosa in 

 the South, including even very small islands in the ocean. Now I have extended my exploration to 

 Korea and China. The number of species of land, fresh-water, and marine shells has now reached 

 over three thousand. Among these are nearly one thousand new species found by myself and my 

 assistants. 



In spite of poverty, I have continued the work absolutely at my own expense without help from 

 any museum or university. During these years I have met various obstacles and hardships, which 

 have required great efforts to overcome ; and it has been only by hard endeavour and by the help of 

 Dr. Pilsbry and many others that I have reached my present situation, having spent no small amount of 

 money in the study of conchology. 



Moreover, I started the publication of a monthly conchological magazine to devote to this 

 branch of the sciences But the study is still in its infancy in Japan ; and I have no more than one 

 hundred and fifty subscribers. From this also I am suffering no small loss every month. I have been 

 paying special attention to the magazine, hoping very much to put some of the articles into English, 

 French, or German : but I am not allowed to do so for the present ; first because of my poor knowledge 

 of languages, and then because of my present economic condition. Though the plates are not very 

 satisfactory, I am glad to see that they are improving number by number, and I shall endeavor to perfect 

 them. 



The establishment of a conchological museum in my country is very important for the diffusion 

 of conchological knowledge ; and it has been my intention for years to erect a building, though it may be 

 a small one for the museum. Having amassed a tolerable amount of money little by little, I have 

 been thinking of starting the construction this year, at the latest. After the recent war, however, the 

 economic conditions of this country have so marvellously changed, that the price of land and cost of 

 construction have doubled as against a few years ago. I am afraid now that I may be unable to start the 

 work in the near future. 



Such being my present conditions, I shall be very happy to have you give me valuable 

 orders, to enroll you as a subscriber, and also to introduce me to your friends, for I want to 

 increase the number of subscribers to the magazine and buyers of shells as much as possible in order to 

 get the required sum for the work. 



Yours truly, 



Y. HIRASE. 



