Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-11-08
CATCHING FROGS FOR MARKET
The Way the Marylandcrs Take the
Euyorch proIuct.

The Way the Marylanders Take the
Favored Product.
Within recent years a large trade has
grown up in Kent county in providing frogs
for market, relates the Baltimore sun. The
catching of frogs for their legs has become
business, and the financial returns are
rather handsome to the few engaged in the
industry Along the small streams tribu-
tary to the larger rivers the big green or
notified black frogs may be found by thou
sands under the tufts OF flag or coarse
grass. One frog shipper has sent to the
Baltimore market hundreds of frogs legs
each season, and has so increased the de-
mand by the superior size and flavor of
the Kent product that he finds ii impossible
to meet the requirements of the trade.
Frog legs are consumed principally by
the patrons of the principal restaurants.
Frogs, when cooked are delicate white
meat and much more tender than fried
chicken. Very nourishing, and easily d.
gested, and are recommended, when stewed,
as one of the best diets for invalids with
delicate stomachs, Only the hind legs and
quarters are eaten, and they are sent to
the market ready skinned and sailed for
cooking.
The market frogcatcher's method of cap
turing his game is to secure small. fiat
bottomed boat, easy of management. and
in the late afternoon, when everything is
STILL he noselessly pushes his little craft
along the shores of the small creeks and
coves. The bull frogs, as they are COM
monty known, because OF their deep, re-
sonant voices, are found sitting in shall
low pool or in the mud under tufts Of
heavy grass or flag. The novelty and sport
of capturing this willy game are worth a
row of ten miles on a hot afternoon. Two
and sometimes three ordinary sized perch
hooks are bound together and baited with
ved flannel. The hooks are attached to a
line OF about four feet, and the line Is at
tached to a long, tough angle rod. APP
preaching the game noselessy and with
extreme caution, the red flannel is gently
moved within a few inches of the frogs
mouth. AS quick lightning and with a
sharp croak, the frog dashes forward and
swallows bait, hooks and ALL Then follow
as gamey struggles as any sportsman ever
saw with hook and line.
The amateur frog hunter usually pro,
vides himself with cat-and-rat rifle, the
shells loaded with mustard-seed shot, and
shoots his game, but this is unsportsman-
like. and is only popular with the unin-
itiated Mill ponds. too, are favorite haunts
for the frog, and on a clear night the deep
roar of the bullfrog chorus may be heard
for moro than a mile.
The old-time afore-de-w Kent county
cook has solved the mysteries of the per-
feet preparation of the frog, and those who
do not know how delicious frogs legs may
be made have many a dainty dish in store
for them. After skinning. the legs should
be placed in cold water for several hours,
then placed on a plate and sailed. In sew
eral hours more they are ready for cook
ing. The legs of medium-sized frogs are
preferable as the very large legs are liable
to be coarse in the texture of flesh The
most popular way in Kent to cook them is
by frying, but there are other ways of
making dishes of them to please the palate
OF the most exacting epicure.