The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-05-13
FROG INDUSTRY IN FRANCE
Varieties of Frogs; the Way the French
Market Is Supplied.

Consul-General Frank H. Mason, of Paris,
in Daily Consular and Trade Reports.
Naturalists have identified and de-
scribed III species of frogs. some OF
which are found native in every part OF
the world except in New Zealand and
the southern portion of South America.
There are in France, besides the rain
cite" or tree frog. two edible species.
the green and the red. OF these the
green frog tRana e~sculenta) is by far
the more important as material for
human food. The so-called red frog
lRana temporarily is of a reddish
brown color, notified with green and
brown spots. 1t is found in great num-
bers in certain seasons in woods, pas
lures and meadows. especially in damp
locations and near ponds and water
courses. 1t lives mainly on land and
takes to the water only on approach OF
winter and during the spawning sea-
son, which is somewhat later in the
spring than that Of the green variety.
Although eaten especially in rural dis
tricts and by people of limited means
in cities and owns, it is smaller in
size, and it's flesh is so inferior to that
of the green frog that ii Is not grown or
fattened artificially in this II The
large American bull frog (Rana mu-
giens) is unknown in franc except as
an imported product of the United
States. and although larger in size. the
French gourmets ind it inferior in sue
culence and flavor to their native spe-
cies.
The green frog exists abundantly
throughout Franc wherever there are
marshes. ponds or sedN margins of
slightly brackish waters. It feeds on
worms. the larvae OF aquatic insects,
small mollusks. flies. insects OF various
species. and especially he spawn and
small fry of dsh. which renders 1t an
enemy Of p1sciculture and Exposes 1t to
the wrath OF fishermen 1t is an out
law, for which the law provides no pro-
lection outside Of privately owned wa
ters.
The supply OF frogs for the markets
es and stagnant waters in the neigh
borhood of Montmorency. Vincennes
and Boulogne, but they are brought
also from the districts OF the vendee
n the Landes in southwestern France,
and also from Lorraine.
los of the frogs sold in Paris are
caught wild. but the demand is SO con
slant hat during recent years some
effort has been made at various points
TO propagate n fatten them by more
or less artificial means.
The process is exceedingly simple.
The best outfit for frog raising is one
or more shallow ponds or reservoirs,
filled with grasses and other aquatic
plants and so situated that the water
can be partially drawn off so az to
SHS ~ "a SdlSillIS. Olu
disused qnarries and excsv ations along
railways and other constructions are
sometimes used for this If,
as is frequently the case, the pond al
ready abounds in frogs, they are sim
ply protected and left a year or two to
propagate. If food Toes not prove
abundant the owner throws in living
e~arthworms, for the frog is a carni-
vorous animal and prefers his food,
whether worms, larvae or insects, fresh
and in a normal living condition.
II no frogs exist in the water thew
are planted either living or in form OF
eggs. which hatch as the water becomes
warm in April nd May. The green