The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-29
A VERY ToOrHsOME DISH.
III ow More Than a Thousand Frogs Day
Take Their Last Leap in Boston.

Fl ow More Than Thousand Frogs a Day
Take Their Last Leap in Boston.
Boston journal.
What can you expect of those fellows
who eat frogs?" was the mplimentarv
exclamation of noted writer when he heard
OF the failure of a certain French dictionary,
but he little realized that the intended slur
which he cast upon the people OF France
would before long be applicable to the
citizens of America. Boston people alone
call for more than two hundred dozen of
these delicious little tit-bits every dav
while New York and the cities to the west
call Tor even larger supplies. In the towns
OF Maine, notably Belfast and Warren. and
on Cape Cod, in Barnstable, Centreville and
Yarmouth, men are devoting their entire
time to catching these Dutch nightingales"
for the Boston market. Early in the
morning the fisherman, or perhaps more
properly speaking reptileman, starts
for the green marshes with his long pole and
net the frogs have just emerged from their
dark, Shiny BEDS and are sitting contentedlv
perched in some sunny spot ready to begin
the overture of their morning serenade
Suddenly whIsh comes the net into their
midst, and the next moment their director
a big pound-and-a-half fellow is to the great
establishment of his frogship, whirled through
the air and landed a captive at the feet OF
his arch enemy. Down plump the other
singers, tenor, bass and baritone struggling
and croaking in startled discord, into their
safe retreats, only to return a few minutes
later and yield another victim to the unre-
lentng net. A good frog iisherman JiI
G3tGp,Ji9Hrteef' amateur will find this appa-
renty easy sport difficult job when he at
tempts to rival the professional. Sometimes
shooting is resorted to instead of netting, and,
again, the little red-hannel bait on the end of
a hook is used to entice the frog from his re-
treat.
The frogs are then sent, some alive and
some dressed ready for the table, to the Bos-
ton markets. In Faneuil Hall Market at
the fish stands, heaps OF little shining pearl
white frogs legs are offered to the public at
from forty to sixty cents dozen. The sea-
son lasts from June till October, July, how
ever, being the busiest time As to the taste
of this luxury, those who have never par
taken OF the frog meat cannot realize its de-
icious flavor and tenderness. The taste is
not ishy one, but resembles most that of
young spring chicken. When served as a
fried or broiled dish it is especially delecta-
BILE, and at one hotel eight dozen day are
called for III this form during the July sea-
son, while even now the average is from two
to three dozen.
Among the curious live specimens brought
TO the Boston markets one, a monster fellow,
weighing nearly two pounds, would sit IN his
tank and cry exactly like baby. The Gus
toners would look around in astonlshmenr,
wondering where the weeping child was hid
den. Another twilight minstrel, kept in a
private aquarium, reminded one of the
famous frog VINO would a-wooing 60" This
fellow conceived violent attachment for a
young lady visitor Every time the lady an
preached the glass abode of the singer he
would strike up his most tuneless lay and
dart to the glass side, following herall around
as she crcled about the aquarium. One day,
to her great astonshment, he made a prodig-
ious leap and jumped square upon her
shoulder where he sat in triumph. The ex-
Il. L.
q few days afterward he died, lamented by
all VINO knew him.