Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-07-31

VI e-C oAENs
But little is said or known of the frog
tIGde of Chicago; the commercial col
umns of our papers tell US nothing oi
it, and we are in complete Ignorance
as to how frogs are quoted, and Wheth-
er the market is dull or lively. OF
hogs, cattle, and poultry, we are told
everything, but of frogs nothing, We
only know of them, that they are good
to est, and that we eat them wonder.
ing why Providence does not see fit to
give US mamoth ones, and with sorrow
we remember the fateof one who tried
to be as large as an OK, and burst. II
he had succeeded, bis descendants
might have been Of the same size, and
we could then have eaten frogs that
were more than mouthful.
We do not know where they come
from, or how they are brought here
whether they grow up Of their own
accord, feeling it blessed privilege to
be eaten by man, and wishing to show
that their hind legs are superior to the
body of anything else, or whether they
are raised for US on the same principal
that turkeys and chickens are.
Their skinned legs are to be seen in
restaurant windows, shining white, and
tempting, but they can be found no
where else. In the list Of delicaeies
on printed bills of fare we see the sim
pie word Frogs" and know it means
six pair Of legs, charmingly fried in
crumbs, and we all order them and eat
them, regardless what the spirits Of our
ancestors may think of it.
We know they would not have eaten
them, but when we are wiser than ouT
fathers, and, with US, frogs have repla-
ced Goldfish and hash. We know how
soft and delicate their delicious little
legs are. and how tender, juicy bones
craunch between our teeth. We know
their clean habits, and how often they
bathe and wash; and We know, too,
that they live mainly on nice fat, plump
beetles, snails, worms, &c.
It was but few days since at Kins-
ley's that young lady aud gentleman
were eating frogs. 1t seemed to be
the first time she had ever tasted them.
and her sweet smile and glittering eyes
told the tale of rapture. Perhaps she
wished to have them at home, for she
asked him where they came from. He
hesitated little and answered. 'from
tadpoIes."
The answer was true as far Is Invent
but it did not sesm to satisfy the lady.
For her sake and for thesake of others
the following facts are given:
Chicago eats yearly 100, 900 pairs Of
frogs legs; in other words, 100, 600 frogs
die annually for our good. Theyenter
life as tadpoles, and depart from it fried
in crumbs. ..-......
The frogs are chiefly supplied to this
city by Mr.. Buck, who IS German,
living about two miles south Of Hyde
Park. He devotes his whole time to
killing frogs, finding that il pays him
well. He and his assistant rise early
in the morning and 60 to the sloughs
lying southwark, carrying with them
long sticks. Dressed in high boots and
old clothes, they walk through and
along the sloughs, looking for frogs.-
When one is seen IL is struck in the
head with the long stick; then the
frog dies, and his hind legs are cut of
and skinned and put in q basket 70
kill them, great care is required, IS
they are cautious and cunning. As
,oon as they hear footstepthey jump
rom the bank or grass into the water :
n few minutes the queer shaped head
will rise Just above the surface Of the
water, and peer curiouSiy around, to
zee who's there. That is the moment
or killing it, aud it must be done very
luickly. Sometimes they are caught
,ut of the water, but not often nova
lays. 81 Ii
When Mr.. Buck first began to kill
hem, it was easy work, for they did not
eem to fear him. But that Is all over
low, and the frogs have lost all their
Id faith in man. They see that man
,rly seek after them to cut of their
ind legs, and cast them aside ~ they'll
10 women after having won their love.
10 they are shy Of Mr.. Buck, and have
o be batted on the head before they
Till come near him.
Mr.. Buck and his assistant pass the
ay in thus hunting for frogs, and re-
urn home about Z O'Clock. The legs
re carefully put away in cool place,
nd brought here in the morning, and
aten by US for dinner and supper.
When, however, the days hunting
as not been successful, aud Mr.. Buck
as not killed as many as hehas orders (
,r, he goes out again at night. He
lkes with him lantern and q pole
ith piece of red cloth attached to !
!. The light from the lantern is |
lrown on the water, and the red piece
cloth on the pole is cast in where it j
hines. The frogs are attracted by the
ght, and 60 to the spot; they see the
ID cloth. are curious, and bite it,
heir teeth becoming entangled in il, q
I'd they are drawn out of the water.
his is the easiest way of catching the 4
ogs, but is less practiced because it L
a to be done in the night time. a
EARLY this spring Mr.. Buck procured c
number of frog eggs and placed them 8
q pool made for the purpose. In b
tile while the place was hiled with d
dpoles, and they grew up in the 4
urse of time to be little frogs. The n
ound, however. around the pool was d
arshy, and the heavy rains filed it 81
tn water. Most of the frogs then a
capped from the pool. and went of 70 d
3 the world. Some of the remain II
g ones have been killed and brought 7
market here, while others have been a
It so that there may be many frogs ts
ere next year. II is probable that q
ger and better pool may be made, d,
d one from which the frogs will not oi
re to escape, so the next year Mr.. q
lex can quietly gather in his daily es
pply of frogs without wandering off 70
J tkem. e.
Il is hard work catching them in Sc
nter, as the ice on the sloughs be- hi
mes 30 very thick and frogs don't to
We chance TO put their heads out of te
3 water. If he can get a sufficient 10
mber of them before winter sets in m
is likely that he viii continue TO sup IN
the market here during the cold re
ather. II so, they will be kept in pc
as in Germany. These To
are large holes in the de
,und, and are four or Ave feet deep. CT
q frogs are put in there, and the ps
,uth of the hole is covered with a eV
ard and straw. Whenever any of
.m are wanted, the board is removed
j they are taken out. ..-
Not only does Mr.. Buck catch frogs lt
nself, but he very often has them gi-
,ught to him by persons living sew 10,