FROG-HUNTING 



frogs are brought into the boat. The spear 

 used by the hunter is very light and with a 

 shaft fully eighteen feet long. At one end of 

 the shaft is fixed the spear, which has three 

 small barbs, each with an arrow-shaped head, 

 which prevents the frog from slipping off 

 when transfixed. The shaft or pole of the 

 spear is usually of pine, sometimes of cane, 

 and is absolutely straight and symmetrical. 

 It is balanced with the fingers and thumb of 

 the left hand and propelled by the fingers and 

 thumb of the right hand. The spear slides 

 along the left hand without leaving the hand, 

 and can be drawn back readily by that hand 

 after the throw is made. The boat is sent 

 noiselessly along the shallow stretches of wa- 

 ter by light dips of the paddle, and as the 

 hunter nears where the frog is floating in the 

 water he stops the boat with a turn of the 

 paddle. The spear is then raised, adjusted, 

 and literally sighted at the frog. 



The stupid quarry is meanwhile looking 

 " all eyes " at the hunter. Nothing but the 

 top of his head showing above the water de- 

 notes that a frog is floating there. The spear 

 is darted toward and under the frog with a 



