New-York tribune., 1903-06-07
RAISING FROGS FOR MARKET.
INCREASING DEMAND EYHAUSTING NATURAL SUP
PLY And FROG FARMS BEING ESTABLISHED

gators etc) and are chiefly characterized by ths
netamorphosis which the young undergo eefors
assuming the functions and habits Of tho Adults
The yourg are mostly aquatic and breathe BY
means OF gills which disappear an the animal
grows older and replaced by lungs
The edible frogs Of the United States belong 70
the genus Rama Oatin a frog. Of which there arc
thirteen species known; also a number OF sub
species varieties.
All frogs undergo a tadpole stage though IN
species this Is so rapid as to lead the casual
observer to think 1t omitted
At the beginning Of spring the hibernating frogs
return to active fe and the breeding season occurs
as soon as the water has become fairly warm
During this the social instinct prevails and
species OF usually solitary habits consregate In
large numbers. thus becoming ready prey for ths
hunters.
The eggs are extruded by the female and are fer
tiIized by the male as they pass out. few falling
to be irnpregnated- The egg laying continues
through several days. and during this period sew
eral hundred eggs may be deposited In passing
down the ovfduct the egg receives p thin coating
OF albuminous material. which rapidly sweIs when
the egg enters the water and forms the well known
gelatinous mass in which the frog eggs are always
found imbedded. The eggs begin development as
as fertilzed, the rapdity depending mainly
the temperature Of the water; incubation IS
much retarded by cold. and some seasons many
eggs are killed By late frosts- In from four to
thirty DAYS the tadpOle is able 20 Wriggle out Of
its geIatfnous envelope and shortly attaches Itself
TO plant other support By means q a
sort OF adhesive organ in front of the mouth. At
first the mouth Is closed and food only be Oh
tanned by absorption. the first food consisting
the gelatinous egg envelope In a short time the
mouth becomes functional, the aLneutary canal
1engthens. and maceratsd animal and vegetable
matter becomes the food. The prevalent idea thar
the tadpole is exclusively vegetarian is Incorrect
recent observations have shown that animal
matter Is preferred to vegetable but all food must
be in state OF naceration. especial fOndness ror
dead animals being shown.
Rapidity OF development depends the ab-Ine-
ance Of food and the temperature OF water. Ths
most favorable conditions shallow pool. read
ily warmed by the and well stocked with
ganic matter. that is. old pond In this stage
the frogs may reach length Of several inches. the
bullfrog tadpole being largest The various species
closely resemble each other. but be distia-
guisned after some experience
tt pi1 tS- Vxs ron .%o S Ii n3lhs SO % to @
bears in the protr1Ision 5f the rgro hind iegs The
foreegs or arms owing TO their being concealed by
the gill membranes. are much later in coming out.
As the legs become functional the tail Is absorbed
and furnishes material for growth. so that little
food is taken In the case Of the second year tad
pole the capture Of insects IS begun before the tail
is lost AS the gills are replaced by lungs during
access TO land or resting places and it is a time
Of peculiar difficulty in the creatures existence
aquatic life is fOrsaken for the amphibiOus. and
Ine Ine 1000 IS changed rom cead 20 HVins matter
that it may be thrown out to quite distance
readily captures any insects small animals that
approach It closely TadpoIes are commonly satIs-
adults do not often search actively for food Sex
ual maturity is reached in about three or four
years. being latest for those varieties that pass the
first winter in the tadpole stage II is generally
believed that frogs I've for twelve. fifteen or even
The species OF frogs commonly eaten are the
bullfrog. the green frog the spring frog, and two
species OF Western frogs. The bUllrrog and the
United states and Canada while the green frog
is found throughout the Eastern and Central States
Ranids are edible. but a few species are not gen
orally used owing to their small size or disagreea-
Although numerous efforts have been made 1t has
stage, owing TO the excessive time required The
@ R tt .rat,re T1sS itI FeS bs s Is ssg,,as m Sb
adult form From this time the f2od mus be living
treme dificulty OF furnishing these in sufficient
Sii Su1.Iey - i 81 .7I-II t -,re s311rsi ronJ baTa
b1A been Compelled M M SG to dsvOGr each other
os sss Is sady Pa Is we Stocked with Organic mat
ter. and build a close fence aroung the edge of II
while screen should be provided so that wadins
s csnnof stand n the watsr and de1our the
helpless tadpoIes; The screen and fence should
tadpoles to come to land for # there opportu
nifty for the tadpoles to breathe the air at rest and
if fFf5se bs indeanitey deisyed By dividing the pond
IRt2 B2s fS os 20s While feuS 0o oS2 sa
stocked with tadpoles II put together the frogs
Food is readily provided during the tsdpols
sSs natural a. food - for the frogs and this can be
raDidlv increased bv supplying animal refuse.
liver and such material care being taken not 70
leave g surplus to putrefv and inject the water
The more abundant the food and the warmer the
water the more rapid is the growth. hence the de-
sfra bilfty OF selecting a shallow pond The pond
should have a growth Of rUshes and other plants.
while shade IS quite necessary.
One OF the most successful frog farms Is IN
Ontario. Canada in the Trent River basin II has
been IN operation about twenty years. and an
nualIy Yields a comparatively large product or
frogs The waters stocked by means or ma
ture mated frogs No attempt is made to coufne
the frogs until the time for shipment 20
market They then taken alive at night. wftn
the aid OF a torchlzht. and confined in small pens
that be drained when the frogs are desired
market No food is given. as this Is naturally
present in sufficient amount for successful growth
The species is tEe Eastern builfrOg which begins
breed at the age or three years. and reaches a
marketable size in four years.