FROG FARM

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20691, 29 December 1938, Page 9

FROG FARM

CA NTERBIRY SCHEME PERMIT NOT GRANTED FEAR FOR OTHER FAUNA The aid of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has been enlisted for the establishment of an edible frog farm in Canterbury. This project, put forward by a prominent business man, has been held up through failure to secure a permit from the Department of Internal Affairs for the importation of live, edible bullfrogs from the United States of America. Unable to secure the necessary permission himself the would-be importer of Nu Fond Giant frogs of the genus Rana (bullfrogs) has appealed to the chamber for assistance. He plans to establish a farm in Canterbury and ultimately to can his products for export as well as home consumption. In His letter, received by the somewhat startled secretary of the chamber (Mr J. Roy Smith), he states that he has twice applied for a permit to import the frogs without success. The grounds for refusal were that it was feared, that should the frogs escape, .they might become wild and constitute a menace to other wild life in this Dominion. This fear, in Ihe opinion of the writer, is unfounded. The frog has so many natural enemies that the greatest care must be taken to protect them in captivity as almost any animal, such as cats and dogs can easily destroy them. “ We have also ample evidence that the farming of edible bullfrogs is a very important industry' in the United States,” adds the letter. “ The demand is such that the available supply is not sufficient. The American Frog Canning Company, in addition to owning a very large farm, buys frogs from individual farms. Demand Exceeds Supply “There is so much demand in excess of supplies that the company has inaugurated an advertising campaign encouraging people to go in for frog farming, guaranteeing to take all their output The American industry has also developed a big export trade, but is hampered through lack of supplies. “ There is no question in my mind that frog farming could be developed into an important local industry in this country. I know there are at least two such farms in Australia already in operation. “ I am of opinion that this matter should not rest, and I would apply to the chamber to take this up with the Government.” This letter will come before the chamber at its next meeting, and in the meantime the business man concerned is familiarising himself with frog farming by the aid of brochures and advice sent out from America. He can quote impressive figures which show the possibilities of this most unusual industry. Asked whether he thought there would be any difficulty in removing the probable prejudice against eating frog meat in this country, he said he did not anticipate it. It was not only Frenchmen who ate it. In the United States it was regarded as a delicacy and had a ready sale. The frog is in no way like the native that frequents the ponds of our own country. He is a monster weighing from l£lb. to 31b. He has as much as a pound of edible meat on him.

The project in Australia was pioneered by two young men in Auroa Victoria. They constructed two concrete ponds and imported the frogs from America. Information as to their success is not available, but as the female frog lays about 10,000 eggs in a season, the growth of their stock should be remarkable if all goes well.