238 REPORT OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



markets of the Province. Too little attention, however, has been paid 

 to the frog in the past and very rapid depletion of its numibers has been 

 and continues to be effected. In two counties only at the present time is 

 the frog afforded any protection at all. 



The main habitat of the frogs is, of course, the marsh. In the 

 breeding season, which commences as a rule as soon as the weather 

 begins to turn warm, and continues apparently until July, the frogs 

 band, and it is during this period that they are most usually pursued, it 

 being claimed by the frog hunters that hunting at other periods of the 

 year would not be a profitable enterprise. The usual time of hunting is 

 the night when the frogs, busily engaged in reproductive functions, are 

 peculiarly insensible to danger, and when, in consequence, considerable 

 numbers of them can easily be secured with the aid of a lantern. The 

 tadpole takes, apparently, two years to mature, and this fact alone 

 would seem to indicate the necessit}" for affording the frogs at least 

 some measure of protection during the breeding season, for the longer 

 the period of time required by any creature to mature, the more easily 

 will it become exterminated. 



The hunting of frogs during the breeding season is harmful in other 

 direction's, however, of no little importance. Precisely at this period of 

 the year the wild ducks are breeding in the marshes, and whether on the 

 nest or with the young require seclusion and peace. The advent of the 

 frog hunters in numbers into the marshes can only be calculated to scare 

 and frighten the ducks at this important season, with the result that 

 nests will be abandoned, eggs trodden on and crushed, and some per- 

 centage, at least, of young ducks perish or be destroyed, all of which in 

 view of tlie general diminution in the quantities of ducks throughout 

 the Province is much to be deplored. 



It would seem, then, that not only should protection be afforded 

 to the bull frog on account of its extensive economic value and for the 

 reason that it takes so long to mature, but that for the better conserva- 

 tion of the ducks and to permit of their breeding operations being as 

 successful as possible, it is imperative that the frog hunters should be 

 kept out of the marshes for a portion, at least, of the banding season. 

 The exact period of the banding season depends in all probability on the 

 weather conditions to a considerable extent. In many instances it will 

 undoubtedly be in progress throughout the month of April and in many 

 instances, also, continue on into the month of July. It is plain, however, 

 that the market interests and many citizens could be expected to com- 

 plain if the wiiole of this period were declared closed to frog hunting, 

 more especially if it be true, as asserted, that the frogs can only be 

 hunted profitably while banding. It becomes, then, a matter of deter- 

 mining reasonable dates for a close season. In view of the fact that the 

 greatest harm will be done to the ducks by the frog hunters during the 

 months of May and June it would seem, perhaps, advisable to select this 

 period for the purpose, and it cannot be doubted that even such partial 



