REPTILES, SNAKES AND AMPHIBIANS EATEN AS FOOD. 245 



off, and the approach must be cautious. The outfit con- 

 sists of a frog spear, a hook and line, a fish pole with a 

 pointed iron in the end, and sometimes a small shot gun 

 is taken along. First discover your frog. He may be 

 sitting on a log ten feet from shore. He feels quite safe 

 at that distance and will probably wait for developments. 

 The hook and line can be used here. The line is stout 

 and the hook big enough to hold a twenty pound bass. 

 The idea is to fish for the frog without bait. A careful 

 hand will manoeuvre the line until the hook is under the 

 frog's throat, and then a sudden jerk takes him off his 

 meditative roost and gives him into the power of his 

 enemy. The spear, which is provided with a long handle, 

 can sometimes be used, though a frog will dodge a sudden 

 thrust as quick as a pickerel. If the shot gun is used it 

 is with a light charge of powder and very fine shot, and 

 the head is the point aimed at. Some of the froggers 

 work the banks and are provided with boats, but success 

 depends a good deal on circumstances. A good hunter 

 has been known to bag 200 frogs per day, but three or 

 four dozen legs are called a fair day's catch. A frog will 

 probably live ten or fifteen years if steering clear of acci- 

 dents. They are not worth catching until they are two 

 years old, and are not " prime " until they reach the age 

 of five. A frog sees his palmy days from five to ten. 

 Before reaching five he is giddy and thoughtless. After 

 that he settles down to a life of ease and contentment, 

 and the days come and go and leave him no sorrow. 

 Frogs have been caught iri the St. Clair marshes weigh- 

 ing as high as seven pounds and having legs almost like 

 drumsticks. One was caught at the head of Belle Isle 

 two years ago which kicked the beam at nine, and one 

 weighing only half a pound less was on exhibition at the 

 Central Market last spring." 



In America the season for frogs extends from March 

 until November. They are in the best condition for table 

 use in the fall, just before going into winter quarters, 

 although more are eaten in the spring and early part of 

 the summer, because they can be caught much easier at 



