The herald. (Big Stone City, Dak. [S.D.]) 1883-1890, 1889-04-19
FROG FARMING.
How n Maine Man Experimental and
Failed in His Experirh rhent.

balleu III Ills
81 see that New York restaurateur
is going to Manchester, n. H.. with
the intention of raising frogs for the
Boston market - said Maine man to
Boston Herald reporter. Now, III
bet the best pair of boots I've got" he
continued. 'rhat he will be disap-
pointed Why? Simply because he
of an experiment of this sort that was
tried away down in Bangor some years
ago. There was a prominent Bangorl-
an, bank president. wealthy and
holding tip-top position III the busi-
ness world, but tritlc eccentric. de
made lots of money in his regular busi-
ness, but he was forever lnventng
something which he believed would
make him a millionaire, and ntothese
schemes he put good deal Of cash
which never came out again. lie
1 didn't know discouragement though.
/ and would come up smiling with
something new every time one OF his
/ pet projects was Knocked into a cooked
/ hat. Wen, he got the idea which has
seized this New York man, that there
was an immense profit to be made by
raising frogs for the Boston market.
He had a charming bit Of lawn adjoin-
ing his residence, and this he decided
to make the Matching ground. He had
II biz, round, shallow pit dug, and the
/ bottom of it stoned and cemented SO it
wouldn't leak The dirt taken out was
made into circular embankment
around the pool, and about the edges
he set ont rushes and other freshwater
plants to give the frogs 4 nice hiding
place He had water turned in through
a special line Of pipes at great cost,
and the pond thus formed was to all
appearances Just the place that q frog
with luxurious tastes would delight to
inhabit. Then he enlisted the services
Of all the small boys in the neighbor-
hood to catch tadpolcs and little frogs,
paving them literally, and in a short
time his pond was populous with the
squrmcrs and jumpers. 10 be sure
they would have plenty to eat he sup
piled his pets with frequent and gener-
Gus repasts Of minced liver, white
bread crumbs, and other delicacies he
thought they might like.
.All went we'll The colony throve
wonderfully; the tadpoles developed
r
fast grew to fat bull paddocks. The
, air in the vicinity fairly throbbed with
their shriI songs and lolorous grunts
Of an evening and people came from
far and near to see the wonderful
sight One night i New York friend
!, !, of the frog culturist came IN on the
late train and was taken to his house.
The newcomer noticed the unusual
sound and asked their meaning.
Whereupon his host revealed to him
the whole scheme and received his
congratulations on the promising look
; Of the enterprise. Before the two
separated for the night they agreed to
90 in tie early morning and inspect
: the pool. They kept their agreement
and not long after dawn sailed out,
each carrying a quota Of food for the
eroakers. All was silent when they
they reached the pond Never
mind said the frog farmer, Just you
wait until throw in this chopped liver
and youth see plenty Of them. lie
8 east his painful Of the dainty far out
and it fell into the water with a tre-
> mcndous splash. But there was no re-
Q sponse; no angular head with google
ewes appeared in the vicinity; no
!, sprawling legs We're sten kicking IN
! der the surface; there was not single
= .ker-chug to denote the plunge Of a
croaker from the rushy banks. Throw
g YOURS in now said the host. and the
: guest complied. But when tho splash
had died away the placid pool was dis
! turbed by no movement. We'll, this
y is singular, exclaimed the puzzled cul-
!. tiyator; there's enough Of 'em about
: here and never knew Of en- to hide
0 like this before. So the two walked
:, around and around the pond, intently
y watching. They saw nothing, how
ever, and when at last the now nettled
u bank president seized a pole and
g thrashed the weeds and rushes, he did
! not scare up anything. Painting and
|. perspring with his exertions-for h
y was portly man-the inventor Of fro.
4 farming, mortified by his failure t
q astonish his friend, gave up his search
o temporarily and they went into tn
! house for breakfast. That disposed Of
e the quest was resumed, but ncithc
d then nor ever since has frog beel
i seen in the vicinity.
d Every kicker OF them all ha'
q migrated elsewhere during the night
y ..And upon my word and honor thi
Il is a true story.