The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-06
FR0GGING.
AN INDUSTRY YET IN AN UNDE-
VELOPED STATE.
Ben: PerIey Poore and the Trespass
ers - Frogs Legs and How
Prepared for tho Table
Catching the Frogs.


Ben: Perley Poore, the veteran agri-
culturisr and Washington correspondent,
| of Washington, has, in grateful remeln-
brancc of his last supper, had his
thoughts directed in the neighborhood
of the frog. In the Amsrican Cuitira!o'
he says
Gne afternoon last fall I saw q wagon
stop at the gate of meadow on my
place, and two young fellows got out.
One of thcm tied the horse, while the
other took bag and u landing net from
the wagon. They then opened the gate,
and, entering the meadow, went straight
to spring in enc corner, in which bar
rel had been set. My curiosity having
been excited, joined them. and found
that they had pulled out the barrel and
wele CROPPING in the muddy water for
something, knew not what.
"What in the mischief are you fellows
doing" asked, as soon as could get
my wind, for / had walked fast.
"That's our business" said one.
"Is itmI answered. "You city chap:
may think you can como into the coun-
try, trespass on peoples land and injure
their property. Now you can pay tol
what damage you've done, or will have
you locked up in Ncwburyport Jail
within an hour"
The fellows evidently saw that / was
mad all over, and one said in an apollo
getic tone:
"Wc'rc only frogging."
"Frogging:" said 1.
"Yes, SIR said the oldest tresspas ser,
eve arc only collecting frogs to send to
Boston, end we're sorry if we've DAM
aged your spring; we had meant to put
the barrel back"
The result was that I let the scamps
60, with positive admonition if l ever
caught them "lrogging" on my land
again I would prosecute thera. learned
afterward from MY neighboIs that they
had been in the habit of tearing up
) springs, leaving gates open and acting
in the independent manner which char
acterizes a city fellow in the country.
And it occurred to me, why should not
the farmer catch his own frogs, either to
sell or cat thcm2 They are used as food
in Europe, and they arc every year more
generally eaten in this country.
AS general rule, the hind, ,uarteIs OF
the frog are eaten, but in Germany every
part, with the exception Of the intestines
and skin, is made use of as food. Many
persons will not cat frogs, believing
that they are unclean, yet they have nc
hesitation in partaking of crabs or lob.
sters, that feed upon the refuse animal
matter which they find in the water.
The flesh of the frog is very white and
tender, nutritious and delicately favored,
and when nicely cookd is one of the
most dainty dishes that the gustatory
sense of al epicule could desire, surpass-
ing in delicacy any fish, flesh or fowl.
They are cooked in various ways, in all
of which their extreme dellcacy is ap-
parent. They can be made in to broth,
tried, stewcd or fricasseed, rs the cater
may desire, but most people who eat
them prefer to have them fried. The
manner in which they are fried at the
prominent restaurants is very simple.
The legs, after being well skinned, are
parboilcd for about five minutes in
Slightly saltcd water; they are then
plunged into cold water for few mo-
mcnts, and arc taken out to drain, aftel
which they are placed in hot pan and
fried in the usual way. The broth can
be made in the same way as chicken or
beef broth.
The season for frogs extends from
March until November. They arc in the
best condition for table use in the fall !,
Just before going into winter quarters,
although more are eaten in the spring and
early part of the summer, because they
can be caught much easier at this season
of the wear. They are caught in various
ways by meals of nets, hooks and the
like, and sometimes by beating them with
long poles as they sit on the banks of the
streams and ponds. The extr,me vora-
city of the frog is easily taken advantage
of, as it will leap after and seize almost
anything that floats on the water near the
banks having the appearance of life and
in motion.
A hook and line, baited with an insect
or covered with piece OF red flannel
serves rs o good tempter to the frog who
will generally seize it without hesitation
or difficulty. After being caught they
are preserved in large frog ponds or
"froggeries," as they are called, until
they are required for the market. The
prol rietcrs Of these "froggeries" send
) the frogs to market at regular intervals,
and they are kept alive until the Gus.
toners purchase them. The principal
places where they are sold in quantities
are in the New York aud Boston mar
kcts, where they can be obtained from a
number of fish dealers. The prices range
from fifty cents to two dollars per dozen,
according to the size, appearance and
quality, but when they reach the restau-
rants their value becomes greater, de-
pending upon the purses and appetites of
the customers. Several Of the hotels and
restaurants are supplied directly from the
"froggerics," and do not purchase from
the market dealers, but the majority OBJ
tain them from the market-men rs their
demands require them.