The evening times., 1900-03-20
FROGS FROM THE NORTHWEST
81. Paul and Minneapolis the Largest
Markets in the World.

From the Chicago Rec0rd)
ST. Paul and Minneapolis are the largest
frog markets in the world The total re-
ceipts for the past year from the frog
catehers OF the State exceeded 100000
dozen. requiring the slaughter OF no less
than 5 900 900 frogs. Five years ago no
frogs were shipped out OF Minnesota Now
the business amounts to upward Of 500 900
a year. A wonderful industry has grown
up in St Paul and Minneapolis in supply
ing the United States with frog legs
Frogs are found IN other States OF course
In the South the supply Will probably
never become exhausted. but there are 70
frogs like the Minnesota product for the
epicure. This is attributed TO the clear.
cool water which is found in Minnesota's s
10000 lakes in which the frogs live end
have their nests.
Frog legs are purchased all through the
States by shippers from the two cities
and this occupation gives employment 10
more than 100 families. who make a good
living the year round. The professional
frOg-catcher can tell frOg-pOnd st a
glance, and they can locate the frog nests
and secure the greatest number in q sur
prisingly short space OF time.
Minnescta-caught frogs are kEown the
world over for their delicacy in flavor.
They are in great demand in New York,
Cincinnati in all the Atlantic States. in
OF st. Louis. and the demand for frog legs
exists in the larger cities and comes
largely from hotels and restaurants. but
throughout the coal and iron districts a
good demand for them is growing IL st
Paul and Minneapolis frog legs are TO be
found on the bill OF fare Of nearly every
hotel and restaurant. Here they cost from
30 to 90 cents per dozen.
The frOg-catchers are located near the
1n1 bo
know all the characteristics CT the frog.
where TO find him. how to catch him. and
where he nests The heaviest catches
are in the fall and spring In the spring
the frogs come out Of their nests in
droves and IL is then easy to catch them.
In the fall they return TO the water as
soon as cold weather approaches. aud it
is very easy to capture great quantities
of them at that time. The frogs breed
very fast, and as il only requires a
couple of months for them 10 attain full
size it is easy TO understand how almost
impossible il will be 10 exhaust the supply
to be found in and around the various
lakes and ponds OF the State which prob
ably number more than 100000 breeding
places.
Unlike oysters, there IS a good demand
for frog legs all the year round. and it is
necessary to hunt them in the winter
time. when the ground is frozen TO the
depth OF two or three feet and the ice
covers the ponds to the thickness Of from
twenty-four to thirty-six inches. But
with all these drawbacks il is not difficult
to gather in $40 a day at this occupation.
When they take to the water in the fall
the professional frog-catcher watches
them and learns where they nest He
waits until the prices are higher in the
winter and cuts the ice over this nest,
scooping out great nets full OF frogs. AS
many as 500 to 1000 can be secured in
one OF these nests in good seasons. This
keeps up the supply the year round and
makes the market steady one eompara-
lively. No effort has YET been made to
establish frog hateheries or to cultivate