OUT IN JERSEY CATCHING FROGS AND THINGS 



BY GAYNE T. K. NORTON 



ALONG the Morris and Essex canal, "somewhere 

 in New Jersey," the boys have found a way to 

 earn their guns and fish-poles without doing 

 much work, or spending any money to make the amount 

 needed. They catch frogs and sell the hind legs in the 

 Paterson markets, getting from forty to eighty cents a 

 pound for them. Sort of hard on the frogs, but the 

 "natives" claim they can sleep now, even if the mosqui- 

 toes are a bit worse. 



The methods of getting the frogs vary with the boy. 

 Some, the prosperous ones who have been in the busi- 

 ness more than a single season, use a .22 caliber rifle, 

 shooting B. B. caps ; others, less fortunate, use the time 

 honored bent-pin-and-red-flannel system. Some prefer a 

 canoe paddle, while a few are partial to the bean-shooter. 

 The youngsters old enough to be "allowed out after 



The "day workers" do not get a chance at the 'coon 

 and 'possum, but they even things up by snaring an 

 occasional pickerel or two. They get good-sized fellows 

 that are readily sold with their hands, too, but at a cost 

 of patience only a boy with an idea possesses. They 

 wade kneedeep into the water, squat down, with both 

 hands submerged, palms up, and wait. Many fresh water 

 fish do not mind being touched on the underside they 

 are constantly rubbing against the bottom of the stream, 

 so are used to the sensation. When Mr. Pickerel comes 

 along and stops dead still, facing the current, a strong 

 brown hand is slyly slipped under him. The hand grips 

 sometimes water and comes up with the prize. But 

 the fish is slippery, and if he is not immediately thrown 

 well up on the bank he will flop free. The sides of the 

 canal are steep, and of slippery clay. The grab for the 



Photograph by G. T. K. Norton 



A SPOT WHERE MANY A BEAUTIFUL HOUR MIGHT BE WHILED AWAY 



In the frog country "somewhere in New Jersey" along the Morris and Essex Canal. Who wouIdn*t be a boy again to catch frogs and things in 



such country as this? 



dark" get "the big croakers," the prizes; a lantern or 

 electric flashlight with a forked stick is the best in this 

 case. Of course, they are bare-footed and once in a 

 while it happens that a swamp black snake gets in the 

 way of the stick, but money-mad boys don't mind a little 

 thing like this. If a stray 'coon or 'possum happens 

 along he is also bagged and the night is doubly profitable. 



fish is disconcerting, and likely as not the fisherman will 

 loose his "toe-hold," wildly wave his arms, fall with a 

 splash, and come up Ashless, so even if grabbed the fish 

 has a run for its freedom. 



Who wouldn't be a boy again and catch frogs and 

 things, and have a goal, a gun or fish-pole, to be worked 

 for and anticipated? 



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