The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-15
LEIGH FARMING IN NEW JERSEY
A Handsome Return From n Few
Acres of Mud SMnmn.

Acres of Mud swamp.
Lacy. N. j., Letter in Philadelphia Times
A leech farm, where the blood-sucking
creatures are raised for profit is one of
the latest industries in this country, and
James Partit, a Jersey farmer |. sing on
Toms river. about five miles from Lacy.
is responsible for its introduction. The
farm really consists of an old muddy
swamp covering several acres of territory.
with water about up to the knees flooding
the greater part of it. 1t might have
made a good cranberry bog had the owner
drained 1t, or fish pond If it had been
cleaned out, or probably better still,
good frog pond. But Farmer Partit is
of an original turn of mind. and having
heard of the trade in leeches he determ-
ined to find out if there was not an open
ing for him. He knew that the common
leech flourished in his swampy pond, for
they had often attached themselves to
the legs of his boys while wadlng through
the water after bullfrogs and fish.
A little investigation convinced him
that the trade in leeches even in these
days is sufficiently large to warrant the
establishment of a regular leech pond
The annual consumption OF leeches in
Paris amounts to nearly 100000 and Lon
don receives about 100000 monthly. Com
mercially regarded the leech is a subject
of great interest in Europe. and vast
quantities are raised in Germany, Hun
gary and Russia Hamburg is the chief
exporting point, and they are obtained
there from the lakes of Pomerania and
Brandenburg, and from Posen in Prussia.
Thousands of the leeches grow naturally
in the muddy waters of these lakes, ana
they are captured by the men, who wade
in the water and allow them to attach
themselves to their legs. The fishermen
pull them off and throw them in a bag
slung over their shoulder. They are then
packed in damp mud and exported in
tubs, each containing about 1900 leeches.
The trade in leeches in this country IS
not as great as forty years ago, when
medical men had a pleasant habit Of
bleeding every patient who fell into their
hands; but 1t has not by any means died
out The little blood suckers are of value
even to-day in certain types Of diseases,
and considerable quantities are used in
one way or another. The trade has been
supplied with these little creatures by i'm
porting them from Europe and from few
collectors in this country, who have
gathered them from the muddy ponds and
lakes. The, first distinctive leech farm
however, Is the one now in operation on
Toms river
Farmer Partit found that the common
leech was not altogether fitted for medi-
cal purposes, and that purchasers re-
ouired either one or two well-marked
species-the German leech, possessing a
body Of dark green. spotted below with
black, or the Hungarian leech, of olive
green color, without spots. A few specl-
mems of both of these leeches were OBJ
tanned, and when they were turned loose
In the swampy pond they multiplied
rapidly The water snakes were the worst
enemies TO the imported leeches, and an
unceasing war had to be waged against
the reptiles. The Hungarian leech is a
large, plump creature, and the body Is d.
yided into eighty to 100 rings or seq
ments.. The cocoon containing the eggs
are laid in summer and In winter, and In
four TO six weeks the young are developed
The young are ready for market In about
a year, but II takes them three years 10
reproduce their kind. The average Ire
time of these leeches Is from fifteen 20
twenty years. and a few old breeders VIII
keep the pond well stocked WIN young
ones for many years IN SUCCESSION.
Tho leeches find subsistence in the
muddy ponds, but the taste of blood
makes them leave every other food As
soon as the bare leg is thrust down INTO
the water disturbing nest OF the I'M
canny creatures, IL Is covered with them.
and in q few moments the sucking OF
the little Jaws will make one draw II up
quickly. Leech fishing is not pleasant
occupation, for the very thoughts OF the
blood suckers are enough TO make a SEN
sitive person sick with dread. Blood Tor
blood Is the motto Of the annelids, anu
they will not be caught and yield up their
life unless the human bait IS thrust down
for them An expert fisherman can catch
many OF them IN a short time and not
waste much blood, for he pulls them of
before they have had time to take very
much Of the life-givlng fluid. Usually a
healthy man can fish IN the swamp four
or fiye hours without getting exhausted