The record-union., 1894-07-21
SPEARINd CROAKERS.
A May Nights Sport Among the
Water Lilies.
Fishermen Interpret the Song of the
Frog-How a Delicacy for the
Table is Procured.

1uo UdTh green leaves OF Inc WAIoT lily
are rising from the water along the shores
of the small lakes and mill ponds, and a
| frog-spearing expedition TO the country
on any of these warm evenings will fur
nish amusement well calculated to di-
vert the mind of the pessimist of long
standing. Spearing frogs by the glare of
a torch. or '.jaek'' light, during warm
night in May is one OF the most novel OF
sports. Spearing suckers" on the
smaller inland streams, or wading the
rifles" in April, over a treacherous
soapstone bottom, in quest of the mullet
or 'red horse,' in any OF the larger
streams that enter Lake Erie, can hardly
be compared with the rare sport of TAX
ing the boisterous and festive croaker of
the marsh from ''his downy nest" after
darkness has settled over the face OF all
nature. Those of a sportive turn who
have never attempted the undertaking,
have something to learn. Soon after the
circular leaf of
THE POND LILY PLANT
Rears its head above the surface of the
water, the season for this sport is at its
hight. Before this time, as also during
the middle of the day, the batrachia are
AOuhO bdCk bH6 DuSAGS-SO ldIf
usually, that it is impossible to- propei
boat within spearing distance. The large
green-backed bullfrogs swim out to the
lilies at dusk, and serenely ensconced
upon lily-pad give vent to those long
drawn and familiar roars that plainly re-
semble the deep bass intonations OF
pipe organ, or the low rasping notes of
bass viol. The discordant notes of the
bulltrog have often been described as
sounding like a garbled pronunciation of
the two very familiar words, "Get-er-
drunk! Get-er-drunkW Whether this
Interpretation of the language of the
batrachia is the midnight revelation of
lone fisherman whose mind has been
temporarily sharpened by frequent liba-
tions from jug filled with subtle juice
OF the Rhode Island Greening is not
known; but it sounds something like it,
and can easily be construed into the
above expression.
AS soon as darkness has fairly settled
the believing notes are heard from all
points OF the shore, and so loud do they
become that the chirpfng notes of the
smaller pipers-the helya. the peppers
and the croakers-are soon lost in the
babel OF believing roars
BORNE TO THE EARS.
1t is time to Eight up" then and pro-
ceed to the work OF the evening, the hard
est part OF which is to push the boat
slowly III among the lily pads. A flat
bottomed skin is best for the undertak-
ing, as it is steadier to stand in, and there
is less liability of the spearer being treat
ed to sudden plunge III the water.
Ii the night wind is blowing gently,
torches made of hickory bark may be
used, or balls of candle wicking, held in
a small wire basket at the end of short
pole and saturated with turpentine or
kerosene, make a satisfactory light If
the wind causes the surface of the water
TO be visibly ruffteu the stationary light
of large lack" lantern is an advantage,
for the hickering OF torch on windy
night will cause the spearer to make nu-
merous thrusts at what transpires to be
but fitting shadow, caused by the rock
ing of the boat, or the uncertain light
that is thrown upon the leaf of a lily pad
which protrudes, between the wash of
little waves, just above the surface of the
water.
The flash of bright light dazzles the
frog, and he will lay quietly until within
spearing distance, often until the spearer
can reach down and make the capture
with his hands. 1t requires about the
same physical outlay to hold a large frog
in ones hand as would be required in
putting on glove two sizes too small.
AS the spearer impales fine specimen, it
is passed to his companion, who
SITS WITH THE PADDLE
In the stern. He quickly removes the
struggling "greenback" from the spear
and thrusts him into a basket, with Sc
curely fastened cover on top. When the
frogs are unusually numerous, often only
the hind quarters are placed in the basket.
Sometimes hundred or more frogs are
taken in this manner in a short time. If
the spearer and his companions are out
for the market, the work proceeds
throughout the night, and the next morn
ing several hundred frogs, carefully en-
balmed in ice, are shipped to the city
market from the nearest railroad station.
A good frog spear can be made from
what is perhaps best known as bed
spring wire. A six-tined spear, with
finely sharpened points, will suffice. A
sharp barb on one side of each tine will
hold the liveliest frog in existence. The
spear may be strengthened considerably
by closely weaving the tines together
with fine steel wire for an inch from the
handle. A good spear handle-any light
wood will sutfice-can be made from
strip of well-seasoned ash, one inch in
diameter and at least ten feet in length.
Frogs legs, which bring from seventy
five cents to 81 80 dozen, according to
size, always have steady call in the city
market. Consignments are shipped to
this city both live and dressed, the de-
mand, which often exceeds the supply,
being almost exclusively from the better
delicacy they are served in all STYLES, at
all hours, and at a moderate charge One
of the solids likely to be included in the
order of "a well-heeled rounder'' at
very early hour in the morning, is
half-doZen frogs prODerlV parnighed and