The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-21
FROG FARMING A
BIG MONEY WINNER
Shallow Pools and bitches i'm
France Put to Practical and
Profitable Use.
HIGH PRICE FOR SADDLES
IS PAID IN PARIS
Supply of Legs for Paris Never
Equal to Demand; Many
Varieties Known.

Paris SAYS that France is generally
known 10 be the country in which the
use Of frogs for food first became gen
eral and has been most largely devel-
oped The following account of the
industry is given by Mr.. Mason
"Naturalists have identified and de-
scrbed III species of frogs, some Of
which are found native in every part
Of the world except New Zealand and
.he southern portion Of South America
There are in France. besides the rain
efte, or tree frog, two edible species,
the green and the red. OF these the
green frog (Rana esculenta) is by far
The more important as material for hui
r;in food.
1.-The so-called red frog (Rana tenn
iolarial is of reddish brown color,
notified with green and brown spots.
r. il found in great numbers at Ger.
rlin seasons in woods, pastures and
meadows. especially in damp locations
and near ponds and water courses. 1t
lives mainls' on land and takes TO the
walcr only OF approach of winter and
during the spawning season. which Is
somewhat later in the spring than that
IT the green variety.
Although eaten, especially in rural
districts and by people of limited
means in the cities and towns, it is
smaller in size, and its fseh is so in.
ferior 10 that of the green frog that
il is not grown or 'fattened artihcIally
in this country.
American Buufrog Unknown.
1.-The large American bullfrog (Rana
mupiens) is unknown in France except
as an imported product Of the United
States. and although larger in size,
the French gourmets find il inferior
in succulence and flavor TO their native
species.
"The green frog exists abundantly
throughout France wherever there are
marshes, ponds or sedgy margins Of
rivers or bays that contain fresh or
slightly brackish water. 1t feeds on
worms the larvae of aquatic insects,
small motlusks, flies, insects of various
species, and especially the spawn. and
small FRY of fish, which renders 1T an
enemy Of pisciculture and exposes 1t 10
The wrath Of fishermen. IT is an out
law. for which the law provides no
protection outside of privately owned
waters.
The supply of frogs for the markets
of Paris comes mainly from the
marshes and stagnaut waters IN the
neighborhood Of Montmorency. Nm-
ccnncs and Boulogne, but they, are
brought also from The districts of The
NrnQrG Hnu TUE LdlitSs III Hpb'h"'V'
ern France, and also from Lorraine.
Most of the frogs sold in Paris are
raught wild, but the demand Is so con
.fani that during recent wears some
fort has been made at various points
o propagate and fatten them by more
~ less artificial means.
''The process is exceedingly simple,
The best outfit for frog raising in one
~ more shallow ponds or reservoirs
SLED with grasses and other aquatic
Dlants and so situated that the water
ran be partially drawn off TO facilitate
ihc labor of catching. DID,. disused
uarries and excavations along rall-
wavs and other construction are
sometimes used for this purpose.
.'If as is frequently the case, the
pond already abounds in frogs, they
are simply protected and left q year OF
Two TO propagate. If food does not
prove abundant. the owner throws III
living carthworms, for the frog is a
carnivorous animal and prefers his
food. whether worms. larvae or insects
fresh and in normal living condition
Living and Dead.
Frogs are brought to the Paris mar
kct both living and dead, and are SOLD
at the great Halles or central market
TO retail dealers and to consumers
The flesh of those killed and dressed
WleTe EDeS are CduGul 10 NIiit'i
more valuable than those brought IL
alive and killed after period of con
hnemcnt under more or less abnorna
conditions. This has the effect of Civ
ing the flesh pinlsish hue. which re
duces it's value, so that dealers Try f'
counteract the dark tint by soaking II
milk or by some other process. whicl
is Il secret Of the trade and not easily
ascertained,
''Frogs are sensitive to cold, anc
when alive must be transported anr
kept secure from frost in winter
When they are to be brought TO mar
ket dead they are usually killed a
The place of origin, the hind leg
and part of the backbone eut of
skinned and strung by dozens on
wooden stick or skewcr. and Tn
bunch thus prepared becomes com
mcrcial unit, and can be transported
kept in refrigcrators and sold lik
fresh meat or fish.
"These punches or sticks are re
tailed in the Paris markets at price
-which. vary, according TO seasDr on
size and condition Of the legs-fror
% 10 30 cents stick or dozen 70
small 10 80 cents or 90 cents site
for large and well fattened one:
When subsequently sold AT reta
provision stores, profit of about 3
per cent is added 10 the above ope
market prices. c
farming is the fact that 1t enables Pc
sons of limited means to utilize marshe
and ponds which are too shallow. an
warm for fish culture and PRACTICAL
useless for any other purpose, ana pr(
duce. on A comparatively small are;
large amount of valuable food mi
terial for which there is always
eager market. ~,
''Frogs of all sizes have multltud
Of enemies, and one of the importor
problems in their propagation IS to pr
tect them. as far as may be, from II
hawks, owls, storss, rats, hsh; SNAKE
and other voracious creatures which co..
stantly prey upon them. = sutlicie,
eiudcd, thick growth of grass, ree@
OF other aquatic plants TO afford M Msa
quatc cover. and a constant warfa
against marauding creatures are amor
sit,. col GnCreS91