Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-15

denly finding himself raked fore and aft by
a charge of No. 10 shot or the bullet OF
rat-and-cat rifle. There are quite num-
Der of professional gunners who exc ont
subsistence by shooting and killing frogs.
THE FROG SHOOTER,
Ii he is sufficiently expert to kill without
decorating the hind quarters. will fiud the
shotgun, loaded with No. 10 shot, the best
means of obtaining good lot OF frogs, but
the rat.and cat rifle is the best weapon for
use in the hands of an inexperienced
sportsman, the 22-caliber cartridge being
employed. An old mine bank, ice pond or
other small lake is the best place for shoot
ing the frog when wounded frequently es.
Gaping into the water beyond the reach OF
the pursuer. He will, however, come
ashore in a short time, and where body
of water such as has been mentioned is Sc
lected the gunner can walk around 1t after
wounding frog, and on his next round
will be apt to find the frog on the bank
waiting for another shot. A crab net is
also we'll calculated to assist in the capture
of game at points where bushes or rocks pre-
vent access to the place where the frog Is
shot.
1t is impossible to mention all OF the
methods adopted in the capture OF frogs.
With the practice of fishing for them with
red flannel for bait, the ma jerity of people
are familiar. On the Potomac flats, near
Washington, there are men who go out at
night with lanterns, nets and camel bags to
gather supplies for the restaurants. The
demand in that city is very large, and
frogs are frequently sent there from as fal
west as Michigan.
THE FROG AS A TABLE DELICAcY
Is growing in favor with Boston citizens,
and all the leading hotels make it promi
nent feature of the cuisine. The principal
market men and provision dealers have 8
supply constantly on hand, and the rare
delicacy finds a welcome place on the
tables of our aristocratic citizens in the
Back Bay District The skinned frogs are
kept on the stalls in tin kettles, with ice
around them to preserve them from spoil.
ing, and are readily sold at prices varying
with their sizes. A big eight.inch frog
readily sells for a quarter, and the de.
mand for them in the markets is said to be
increasing at a pace commensurate with
the growth of their popularity at hotels
and restaurants.
There has been considerable discussion
as to whether or not any part except the
hind legs of the frog was proper to be
eaten, but as there Is nothing but skin on
any part but the hind legs, the discussion
seems to be waste OF words. So far as
the other meat is concerned there is nc
reason whatever why as much of it as is to
be found should not be eaten as of the hind
legs. The frog breathes not only by means
OF his lungs, but also through his skin. 1t
is, therefore, necessary for him to keep
near the water to moisten his cuticle, as q
fish moistens his gills.
The frog has no ribs, and is therefore
unable to breathe by alternate expansions
and contractions of his chest. He first
swallows the air, and then shuts his mouth
to force it into the lungs. If frogs mouth
is held open he is soon suffocated. For
this reason desert is as much bar to his
progress as an ocean, and although the rep.
resentatives of one or more of the 40 spe.
cies into which the frog family is divided
are found in almost every locality from
within the Arctic circle to the equator, the
dry, sandy plains are everlastingly doomed
to the absence of his melodious voice, his
delicious meat, and the sport he affords tc
the gunner