Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-04-04
FROG FARMING.
The Profits and losses Attending the In.
dustry.

"What do l think of the establish
ment of frog farms in the United States
to supply the demand in Europe? 1t is
fine idea in theory only" remarked a
state fish commissioner TO representa-
tive of the Mail and Express.
"Why do you say in theory only9"
Because it has already been tried.
Experiments in frog farming have
proved futile, and the man who attempts
it gets some experience and no recon-
pense for his trouble. Several frog
farms have been started, always with
the same result The reason they do
not succeed is this: it is very difficult to
provide proper and sufficient food for
them during their infantile period. The
birds eat the tadpoles and the adult
frogs live upon insects, leaving their
watery, swampy habitation and skir-
mishing around on the land for them.
In farm they can not well forage for
insects, there are so many confined to
limited area. 1t is utterly impossible to
catch enough insects to satisfy and gor-
mandize the farm. They prey upon
each other. The baby frog is greedily
devoured by the large bull-frog. who
floats along in a stagnant pool with his
mouth open. swapping them up with
avidity. 1t is survival of the fittest.
The fiAest in this case are not enough
to pay for those that persisted. The
embryo jelly that floats along covered
with green ooze from weeds, from whose
pores million frogs may germinate in
the war of the hungry and strong over
the weak does not escape. A farm
started several seasons ago near Gale
donia, in Livingston county, this state,
proved an egregious failure, and dead
expense for the reasons | have men
toned. If it could be done successfully
there would be millions in it. 1t is
Utopian dream, the fulfillment of which,
l think, will be many years from the
present.
Are many frogs consumed daily in
New York;"
''Yes. During the summer months
from one thousand to two thousand
pounds are eaten daily. They are
shipped fresh to this market from Cam
ada principally, in large half barrels.
The love for frog meat is on the increase.
EpicureS and men of extreme wealth
give exorbitant prices for them. The
large green bullfrog is the chief kind
sold in this market. In Chicago they
are called water chickens, because their
flesh is white as that of chicken when
dressed properly"
The import and export partner of a
large wholesale grocery establishment
said that no canned frogs We're exported
to Europe. 1.-The fact is. there are no
canned frogs for sale worth mentioning.
In the eastern part of the British prov
inces and Canada few were put up in
cans. 1t did not pay and they stopped.
Then little while ago the industry was
started on Prince Edwards island but
the facility for shipping live frogs killed !
it, and to-day canned frogs are rarity.
Thousands upon thousands of frogs are
shipped to Europe each summer and
fall, alive. They are placed in large
baskets, between layers of damp moss |
and leaves. When they arrive at their
destination they are healthy and sound !
and free from fever. The stock of frogs |
in Europe is limited. lived in France
years. and never tasted
one during that period. Although the
French are called nation of frOg-eat-
ers, yet they do not consume one-tenth
as many as the people of the United
States. The frogs there are few and of