River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-09-26
WITH FROG-HUNTERS.
How the Little Croakers Are Caught Near
Washington, ID. c.

| How the Little Croakers Are Caught Near
| Washington, II. c.
The country about Washington is
exceedingly productive of frogs. The
many swamps about the city fairly
swarm with the agile croakers, and the
river. particularly the eastern branch,
is one of the greatest known breeding
places of the best species. It is here
that the hunter mostly goes in search
of his game, and any night the Ian
| terms of a score of boats may he seen
l7twinkling brightly as the crafts glide
silently. padded by an experienced
frOgger. along the banks of the slow
moving stream. Generally two people
go on these excursions. working to-
gether aud dividing the 'ketch.n
The modus Operandi of catching a
frog seems simple enough when it is
described. but it is quite the reverse
when the uninitiated first tries his
hand.
| A reporter accompanied a couple of
| the most experienced and successful
| hunters on the river on their evening
trip and saw how it is done.
A large majority of the frog
gers rendezvous at the foot of
Seventh street, which is the greatest
gathering place of all the fishing craft
sailing the waters of the Potomac. A
frogger's boat is not itself peculiar; it
/ is not unlike hundreds of other boats
used for various purposes on the river
A light canoe or skiff, propelled by
broad double paddle or shoving-pole,
if in the hands of skillful boatsman.
makes good progress. The frogger's
Outfi, is also simple-only a lot of bags,
light, hardwood stick, and bulls
eye lantern Of the most approved pat
tern. This is all. if the rubber coats
of the men and bottle of bait that is
stored carefully away under the stern
sheets, are excepted.
The boat skirted the banks and sud
denly the light of the bullseye flashed
out and the nights work was COM
menced. The lantern was attached to
the bow of the boat and its rays flash
ed far over the waters and amid the
tangled shrubbery II was dazzling
in its brightness, and for moment
the frogs squatting about in the wann-
kapin leaves ceased their croaking
and winlled helplessly at the light,
unable even to drop into the water
This was the hunters opportunity and
he seized the frogs, one after another,
by the nape of the neck with his right
III l.
and threw them, one after another
into il. The work was done quickly.
We had struck a sort of a nest and in
a veryshort time half dozen frogs we're
writhing in the bottom OF the sack
When no more were within reach the
bag was closed, the lantern slide shut
tight and the boat glided into fresher
fields. Every thing had become very
quiet in that ueighbOrhoOd. Now and
then the first experience was gone
through with, varied several times by
the uses OF tho stick. The
lantern was flashed, aud the
man in the bow instead OF
using his hand. banged the
stick down now and again, whack.
whack, whack! upon the nose of his
frogship. who would Immediately drop
into the water turning up his white
stomach, dead. BY the time the moon
rose there were over twenty-five
pounds aboard, so the boat was turned
homeward.
There are several other modes of
hunting frogs for the market The
boys do a good business shooting them
with air rifles, going TO the swamps
lying along the river shore 1t takes
a quick eye and a steady hand for this
sort of thing. but they generally sue
cecd in bringing back "A dozen or two
from their trips There are numerous
other methods, with hook, fly. stick
or net, but they are used infrequently.
The gun and lantern arc by far the
most popular.
Up to within a few years ago only
the legs of the frog were eaten. but the
animal having become very scarce in
Europe. the experiment was tried of
eating the entire frog. and it was dis
covered that the delicious flavor of the
legs was also found in the other por-
tions These were used mostly for
making a kind OF broth that is much
liked by epicures. For iuvalids there
is nothing to compare with it. staying.
as it does. in the stomach when the
most delicate food fails Washington
star.
American railways kill but one
nllf of Id nnn ono r,assererers carried |