Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-02
BULLFRoGs FOR MARKET.
How They Are Raised by Artifce-Larg
Profits in the Business.


How They Are Raised by Artihce-Large
Profits in the Business.
Nov THAT THE PRESERVATION OF THE
= ' fur seals has been assured by Mr.. Blaint's
agreement with England. the humanitarian and
the zoologist are inclined to be apprehensive
respecting the fate Of the nou-pelsgic bullfrog.
So actively has the hunting Of this amiable
and defenseless creature been carried on dur
ing the last century that il seems likely TO be-
come extinct like SO many other animals which
were formerly represented most numerously in
the fauna of North America. So long as attacks
upon its tribes were made by no more formid-
able foes than small boys armed with fishing
lines and red flannel bait there we're hopes for
Its survival in the sequestered swamps and
meadows wherein it finds its favorite habitat;
but Of late years ruthless destroyers, with no
other object than to supply the pot. have in
vaded these moist precincts with shotgun and
scoop net, wiping out this valuable species SO
thoroughly that myriads of acres which once
afforded them home now are a silent waste. not
the echo Of a single nocturnal croak breaking
upon the stiffness of the air where batrachian
choruses erstwhile expressed the tuneful mood
OF nature Now that q usefulness for frogs
skins has been discovered more delicate
and beautiful substitute for leather in the COW
ering of books and for other purposes the pros
pect is that the last survivors of this interest
ing race will before long be wiped out.
THE LARGEST IN TIE WORLD.
The bullfrogs OF the United States are the
biggest of their kind in the world. Sometimes
they reach the length Of two feet, and q few Of
that size lately reached the fish commission in
this city. They are to be represented by
models at the worlds fair in Chicago. The
creatures live habitually in quiet ponds and
sluggish rivers. They are of solitary habit,
not seeking each others society except during
the breeding season. when frequently
hundreds Of them will be seen together At
that time they utter the hoarse believing note
from which they take their name. for the pur-
pose OF a serenade, it is supposed. Like
other frogs, they are carnivorous. feeding upon
insects, mollusks and other small animals
found in or near fresh water.
THOUSANDS SHIPPED ABROAD.
Some notion OF the enormous quantities OF
frogs consumed in Europe may be go. from the
fact that they are fetched continually to the
city of Vienna from the country in patches of
900 to 10000. At the Austrian capital they
are sold to great dealers, who have conserva-
tories for keeping them. These Conservatives
are big holes in the ground four or five feet
deep, the mouth of each covered with boards,
or in stormy weather with straw. In these pits
the frog never becomes quite torpid, even dur
get together in heaps and thus keep themselves
wet by preventing evaporation. no water being
ever put with them. New York city consumes
GO, coo pounds Of frogs legs annually, which re-
tail at 80 cents pound. Recently attempts
have been made to can the legs fer market.
BREEDING THEM BY ARrIFIcE.
To prevent these valuable animals from being
altogether exterminated certain persons have
recently undertaken the task of breeding and
h.ro ln, "a
simple one. and any one may succeed in rails
ing frogs who has aproper place to do it in and
is willing to take the necessary pains. To
begin with, it Is necessary to get the spawn,
which may be procured from any bit of water
where bullfrogs dwell by going thither with a
dipper and searching for the glutinous punches
of eggs that can be readily found in the shall
lows. Be careful in dipping them out not to
break the substance which holds them together.
Put them in a pail or can and convey them to
the Matching box, which must have been pre-
viously prepared. The box should be two feet
long, twelve inches deep and eighteen inches
wide, covered on the bottom with gas-tarred
wire sievlng, twelve wires to the inch. Anchor
the box in the gentle current of stream, and
within a week, or, at most, fifteen days, the
little strangers will hatch out. As to time, it all
depends upon the temperature Of the water.
HOW TO LOOK AFTER THE PoLLYwoGs.
After the pollywogs arc thus Matched they
prepared with great care fer their reception.
They have many enemies against which they
have to be protected. such fishes, snakes,
birds, lizards and numerous other animals.
The pond should have plenty of soft muck on
the bottom for the frogs to lie IN during the
winter Around the ponds tight board fence
ought to be built to keep out all foes that walk
and crawl, and it should be so close to the
water that no bird can stand on the ground in
side and pick up the pollywogs. Otherwise
they will rapidly and mysteriously disappear.
There is no trouble in feeding the frogs while
they are still pollywogs. nature having pro-
vided for that by supplying microscopic forms
in the sediment for them to browse upon.
Their increase, when properly protected, is
| enormous, and many frog farms have already
been made exceedingly profitable.
In former times frog soup was favorite
medicine given by physicians in cases Of con-
sumption and hypochondria. Anciently many
preparations wers made from frogs, such as
salves, as well as oils from the spawn and urine.
Frogs hearts were recommended to be swal-
lowed as pills every morning for certain dis
eases. In the country to this day frogs are APP
piled to the forehead Of . patient in cases Of
cerebral congestion.