The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-17
FROG HUNTING in
THE DISMAL SWAMP
Profitable Industry for Pas
quotank Fishermen.
HOW FROGS ARE CAUGHT
A Night Hunt in the Swamps and the
Valuable Boat Load that Was the
Catch-SoId in Baltimore at
$3.50 Dozen.

Since the days OF old Black Beard,
the pirate, the fishermen OF the Pasquo-
tank River have lived and thrived and
died along the inland waters Of Eastern
North Carolina. With every turn Of the
season they go out in their little shad
boats, seeking some means of making
an honest livelihood. The Pasquotank
shad boat Is peculiar to these waters.
It is a rather deep built row boat. minus
car locks, with short stumpy sail at
tached. It is the most cumbersome
looking craft afoat yet the safest In
bad weather. The fercest storms are
weathered in these tub, whose depth
brings the gunals to the waist of tho
fisherman.
Recently the North Carolina aLegisla,
ture passed law which so effected
the oyster industry as to practically rob
the fishermen of the month of April.
The law came as a surprise and left them
to make the best Of the short season.
In addition to this. the shad and herring
fisheries have been exceedingly poor,
SO that the joval fisherman of the AL
bemarle section are put to 1t. SO to speak,
In order to make ends meet. Terrapin
and turtle are caught and sold, and this
trade Is In itself an interesting study.
The most significant OF nll the river
Inhabitants Is now becoming the most
popular The croaking swamp frog mas
In fact 1t is wonder more attention
has not already been paid to this indus
try II ately the Baltimore market has
produced demand for these dainty
frogs. which arc now basking IN the
sunshine. ~
The bull frog is exciting the Pasquo.
tonk fisherman and turning him topsy
turvy
NAV be termed 'sweeter" coming from
the Albemarle swamps than from otner
localities? Can you imagine yourself
entering n stylish cafe. to call for 1rog
legs served a la Abemarle, with cat
to 1i trimmings? Perhaps 1t is stretch
ing the Imagination a bit, but the fact
remains, nevertheless. that the swamp
frog OF Eastern Carolina IS
dainty thing; s. frog which measures UP
to the standard of frog quality swamp
frogs are of rare flaVor. me Fic!i
grasses and other frog ehtaples are ~,
clined to give tho flesh tone. which the
eplcure chooses to term excellent That
Is why Dismal Swamp frogs are the best
breeds for eating purposes; better by
far than your ordinary frog from the
bog.
frogs sell at SIPS per dozen on the Eliza,
beth City market, and that shippers get
$3.50 for them delivered In Baltimore!
Nevertheless It Is a fact! The ease and
rapldlty OF IToS coNSH'!tb t.tnNtS ~ INV, /
rife is discarded FOR frog marketing; they
must = be secured alive Traps are out OF
the question, for frogs are too stupid and
tickle to go into them y one went our
pieccee ' Of ~ red flannel, 1t might take j., a
swamp does vt allow walking. The frog
must be caught facing the hunter. lie
must be approached and sn . sntrapped an inc
cooped as a chickeh, tpr , alTss ueup "l n1
is" swampdom' there are hundreds Of Juicy
bulls. croakIng and snoriYs the night
hours away, Thousand, perhaps, millions
Of them. breed and exist , ~ ths region or Of
the Dismal swamp Inc n otp'9 ar aes s
A few weeks ago the writer was an,
proached by the owner. of frog boat, y
rocking old tub Of a thing
Jast made haH S nost 1ns p Wth ais
o pnl'' s'sisp .'s .htched With nail no
'ISs idoM the m;y, 'nSss!s e a sIs pockets
He showed mo six dollars and some
''Shad9'
"Nope"
"Herring2"
you're wrong"
"Nor eels either" said the youth.
What. What !henY'
Not all that money for, fross?'
sin one night. too
GLOW many did you get?" -,
shoulders, scratched q match on she seat
o. Wards nis p the wharf. "jsk I'M, he said,
Walking over to the wharf ] saw a
commission merchant with Two long
boxes, Slated like chicken coops, peer