Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-28
FROG FARMS.
Raising the Culinary Deiicacy for Market
is Now Thriving Industry.
Chicago Inter Ocfaa.


You will be surprised, said he. 'to
learn that new industry is growing IN
in the North-an industry which is en-
tircly devoted 20 frog culture.
There are large farms at st. Joseph.
Saugatuck, New Haven. Grand Haven
and Battle Creek. where the frogs we
sell are raised. On many farms in the
Northwest there are marShy places that
are utterly useless for agricultural pur-
poses. Many of these spots are being
reclaimed by their production of frogs.
The animals require very little care,
and are very prolific. One man AT st.
Joseph has POO, 600 pOllywOgS in his lake.
They viii soon be ready for the market,
and 40 the price at which legs sell his
profit will not Doe far from $1,000. 1t
would take big crop of grain, and an
enormous amount OF work and worry
into the bargain. TO yield that much.
There are different breeds; the best and
largest comes from France. They are
sent To this country by breeders over
there who make a speciality of them.
You may laugh when | tell YOU that il
will not Doe long before frogs will have
NNANAA NIIttNN rs go NNNAANA rams NAAA AtA 2
stock shows. Why, even now pedigreeS
are furnished importers and there is Il
frog at St Joseph named sullivan; he is
big bull and his voice is a caution.
lie is famous i'm that locality. He was
imported from France and cost $50. An
ordinary pair of breeders can be bought
for 81.
Does &c require much trouble TO
catch the hopperS?'
No; when they are large enough for
the market they are surprised i'm the
night time while sitting ON the banks OF
the pond. Men with lanterns can readily
pick them up, for the light dazzles
them. After being captured they are
killed and the hinder parts are packed
u ice for shipment here. Sometimes
late iu the season. which extends from
spring Co winter. they are sent TO us
alive. We freeze them up and in the
spring they sell at a good price. The
big ones are worth about Sl.25 per dOz-
en- 40 that time. They need no care
from us when brought here alive. \
frog will live six months without food.
but during the period of growth care is
necessary that the water they live i'm be
pure. They thrive best in running
water, where there is plenty of grass
and reeds. Such q habit is necessary
for them Co hide themselves in for pro-
lection The farms are usually sur
rounded by fences. So that the frogs
cannot migrate. and So that intruderS
cannot modest them.
Il think the time is coming when frog
culture will be "a permanent industry.
Farmers are becoming discouraged by
the successive failures of crops for the
last few years. and they must find some
thing else % raise think this will be
the result. that frog culture and other
lines will increase and the result will be
a slight reaction ON the staples which
are now 40 a low price. The raising of
frogs is pleasant occupation and a
paying one. Chicago will eat all that
can De produced I'm the Northwest. We
have NO trouble ia diSposiug of all that
are sent us. Sometimes our house alone
sells one hundred dozens i'm a day. and
there are many others who sell about
the same amount. The summer resorts
take large quantities from the whole
sale trade.