588 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ment under a strong magnifyiug-glass, and you will see that it is nearly- 

 all animal matter, or a formation between animal and vegetable, and is 

 the proper food for the young frog-fry. They will eat it off from the 

 sticks and stones on the bottom of the pond, and keep them as clean as if 

 they had been washed. An old pond is better than a new one, because 

 it will have more food in it. 



The above is as far as I have gone. I have lost my polliwogs, and 

 know what became of them, and hope others may profit by a knowledge 

 of the difficulties in the way. 



When they have reached the condition of frogs they live on all kinds 

 of insects. To provide them food the only way is to procure insects in 

 quantities large enough to support a great number of frogs. One plan 

 1 had was to put any kind of meat or anything that would call flies and 

 place it around the edge of the pond and on floating boards ; flies would 

 come and cast their eggs, and the frogs live on the flies and maggots. 

 I think they could be taught to eat meat. They would certainly eat it 

 if they once tasted it. The question is, how to get them to taste it. I 

 have many times tied a small piece of meat on a fine thread and attached 

 the thread to a long fish-rod and moved it about near the frog's nose, 

 and he would take it very quick. But you could not afford to teach a 

 million in this way. I think there might be some plan invented to teach 

 them to eat meat ; any contrivance that would give it a life-like appear- 

 ance and movement, and not have the fixture so clumsy that it would 

 frighten the frog before he made a snap at the meat, would answer the 

 purpose. The frog takes his food with a snap. Frogs are an article of 

 food to a great many. They used to be plentiful, but are now very 

 .scarce, owing to their being taken during the spawning-season, which 

 is the only time they are taken, except a few that are taken out of the 

 muck in the springs where they gather during the winter. 



