Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-21
A FROG FARM.
Raising a Big Family of Croak-
ers for Western Epicures.
The Frogs Kept in Three Large
Ponds and Fed Daily.

out the United States and the Clnada,;
but failure has been the rule rather than
the exception, and many sanguinc
proprietor OF costly ponds and pastures
has dropped snug little fortune in his
attcmp. TO initiate our French friends
across the Atlantic who find-in the bust
ness OF frog raising something of pleas.
urc and no little profit. 1t is, therefore.
noteworthy that DIessrs. George E.
Stevens and Charles j. Swan of
the I[omcdalc pct stock farm. at
st. Joseph, Mich, have succeeded in
this industry TO degree highly salts
factory TO themselves and patrons, al.
though their knowledge of frog raising,
has cost them many hard earned dollar,
and several years of faithful study and
close observation.
MIR. Stevens takes great pride in his
pet Industry and never tires of showinr
visitors about the ponds and explaining
the habits AMI characteristic, of his
big family of croakcrs. DIr. Stevens
owns several acres of land adioinint
the city OF ST. Joseph on the south.
Through the farm runs large ravinc,
at the head of which are never. failing
springs of pure water. At some dis
lance below the springs are located the
frog ponls-,hrcc in number. Water
is supplied to the poad' through a pipe
from large, deep lake formed by
dam placed across the ravinc near the
springs. The largest of the ponds Is
well lille with lily pads, Canada bog
moss and other varieties of water pion;s
sail 10 be essen tial to the life of the
frog. TAe smaller pond, are frinccd
with these plants, while the centres are
Kept comparatively clear. Mr. Stevens
estimates that there arc now no less
than 200, 900 tadpoles, polly wogs and
small frogs in the three ponds, and his
statement is undoubtedly correct, rs
the bottoms of the ponds are literally
covered with these peculiar look ing
little fellows. These will be ready for
tic market carly next summer and will
bring anywhere from $125 to So n
dozen. Most of them will be shipped
to Chicago aud will find their way into
the fa:hiona BILE hotels and restaurants.
Frogs for breeding purposes, which are
raised on this farm in great numbers,
bring So d,z:n.
There arc in the pond, about COO
full grown frogs kept for breeders. aad
these are Tel BY hand at regular inter
walls to prevent them from dcvoarins
the smaller frogs. Every day certain
number OF them are found out Of the
water waiting for ;ie'r meal. They
are fed Oh bee: liver Ly means Of a
long pole with a short string attached.
On the end Of the string piece of liver
is fastened, which is daaglel before
the eyes OF a hungry froggH who Sc
cures 1t by jumping. 1t is said that
one feeding satisfies . frog for about
two weeks. They are very fond of
birds, and often succeed in capturing a
sparrow that may chance to alight on
the ground near where big frog hap.
pens to be sitting.
The male frogs arc savage fighters,
and when two of them meet there is
sure to be conflict. There are several
frogs in these ponds that are badly
crippled by fighting. One has lost
fore leg entire, and another ha,
broken and mutilatol hind leg. Tic
largest bull in the pond is called Su.li-
van, and nc is said to be able to whiD
any OF the other green healed pagilsts
on the premises. The frogs live in
families of generally one male and not
less than five females, each household
occupying some sheltered nook along
the shore Of the pond.
The ponds are protected from the en-
croachmeats of the public by high
board fence. which also prevents the
frogs from escaping. Mr.. Stevens
claims this to be the largest frog farm
in this country and that the stock is all
from the finest imported breeds. The
frogs are captured for market after
night by the light of torch or lantern,
as after dark they arc always found sit
ting on the banks, and can easily be APP
preached and picked up. In tic day
time they arc quite shy and can only be
caught with difficulty. : Chicago Meus.
What You See in the Shooting Star.