The Washington herald., 1909-07-11
How FROG FARMS"
ARE RUN In FRANCE
Americans May Learn Much
from Gallo Method.
GREEN FROG THE FAyORITE
"BuII Frog Regarded by Foreigner
az Coarse Variety OF Home Prod
uct-How Raising, Catching, and
Marketing La Carried On other
Side OF the PacihO Ocean.

L France was the first nation 20 make
large use OF frogs legs for food. For
I century and more this edible has been
considered a great delicacy IN France and
the industry OF raising the frogs and pre-
pairing them for market is an extensive
one in that country.
/ From France the taste for the hind legs
Of the frog has been acquired IN other
countries. and has spread widely on this
side OF the ocean. Along the Atlantic
coast. In Maryland. in New Jersey, In the
tide waters OF the Carolinas. and along
the Gulf coast catching frogs has passed
from a pastine to = serious business.
Numerous frog farms exist to-day IN
the regions mentioned. where good profits
are made raising and killing frogs On =
commercial scale for market
The Industry in Fauna.
These facts make interesting some data
picked Up n France regarding the In
dustry there by Consul General Frank
II. Mason and recently sent 70 the Bu-
reau OF Manufacturers n this city. Fol-
lowing Is a part OF his letter:
NsturRl.sts have Identified and de-
scribed III species OF frogs. some Of which
are found native In every part OF the
world except New Zealand and the south
ern portion OF South America There are
In France. besides the "rainetts" or tree
frog. two edible species. the green and
the red. OF these the green frog CRana
lesculenta) is by for the moro important
as material for human food
The so-called red frog CEana tempora-
ria) is OF a reddish brown color. mottled
with green and brown spots. II Is found
In great numbers az certain seasons II
woods. pastures. and meadows. especially
in damp locations and near ponds and
water courses Il lives mainly on land
and takes 70 the water only on approach
% 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 towns. Il is smaller in size. and
It's flesh Is 50 inferior 20 that OF the green
frog that IL Is not grown or fattened
artifcially, in this country
The large American Dull frog CRsns
nugiens) IS unknown IN France except as
an imported product OF the United States
end although larger IN size. tie French
gourmets md IL inferior IN succuIenca
and favor 20 their native species.
Conditions OF Breeding.
The green frog exists abundantly
throughout France wherever there are
marshes. ponds. or sedgy margins OF Wv
ers or bays that contain fresh or slightly
brackish water. Il feeds on worms, the
larvae of aquatic insects. small moIlusks,
flies. insects o. various species. and es-
peclaIly the spawn and small fry OF hsh
which renders Il an enemy OF pisciculture
and exposes Il 70 the wrath OF fishermen
. II IS an outlaw. for which the law pro-
b vides 10 protection outside OF privately
owned waters.
The supply Of frogs rOr the markets ot
3 Paris comes mainly from the marches and
stagnant waters n the nelghborhood Of
MOntmOrency. Eincennes, and BOulOgle
but they are brought also from the dis
/ Tict OF the Vendee and the Landes n
Southwestern France, and also from Lor.
rslne
Most OF the frogs sold IN Paris are
caught wild. but the demand IS &C con-
stant that during recent years some ef-
fort has been made at various points &c
, propagate and fatten them by more o.
less artificial means.
The process IS exceedingly simple. The
best outfit for frog raising Is one or more
shallow ponds or reservoirs. filed with
grasses and other aquatic plants and SO
situated that the water can be partially
drawn OF 50 as 20 facilitate the labor Of
catching. Old disused Quarries and exca-
vations along railways and other con
structions are sometimes used for this
purpose. II. as Is frequently the case
N.n- a. a. -
are simply protected and left q year OF
l two 10 propagate. Il food does not prove
abundant the owner throws IN living
earthwOrns. for the frog is a carnivOrous
animal and prefers his food, whether
worms, larvae. or Insects. fresh and in q
normal. living condition
HatchinE and Growing.
II no frogs exist in the water. they ART
planted either living or IN the form Of
eggs, which hatch as the water becomes
warm IN April and May. The green frog
spawns during early spring. the female
depositing from GO 10 1000 eggs, sur.
rounded with 8 gelaSinous substance
which holds them together. With nC
further care from the parent the esq:
hatch at the end Of a week OF tan days
according 70 the temperature OF the
water.
. Each egg produces a tadpole Ctetard)
T which IS at first fish with q long flexible
: tail and respires by means OF gills. Sub
3 seQuently the hinder. then the forward
legs appear, the tail shrinks and -disap-
pears. and The creature develops into 6
frog with the dungs and respiratory ap-
| paratus Of batraehian reptile, capable
OF torpid hibernation.
~-E F,r-
e place within a period OF about four months
r and the frog hatched in April or May
although not fully grown until the fol
lowing year. IS ready for market by the
end Of October.
Catching and Marketing.
r Securing the frogs depends on various
conditions and somewhat upon the TEN
perament OF the catcher. II he Is {
sportsman. he VIII prefer to take then
by fishing with hook baited with a bit Of
red cloth OF with bob OF the same
material The frog is exceedingly vora,
. cious and when cautiously approached
VIII rush al the hook or bob" swallow.
{ ing the latter and holding II until he car
I be drawn into q net. Another method !:
, 10 fish al night with bull s-eye lantern
the light OF which distracts the frogs 81
$ that they may be readily taken with I
scoop net or even with the hand
y II the fisher Is a market man, intent
. only upon meat, he viii probably use {
: seine or other form OF dragnet, OF, II pos
J sible. draw OF the water IN his pond un
D I'll II IS reduced 70 a shallow pool intt
: which he can wade and scoop UP thl
frogs with q net or basket
The main seasons for catching frogs az,
? during the spawning period IN the sprini
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