Page 10 Friday, December 2, 1977 Castor Review With a twist of the paddle I eased my canoe deeper into the bullrushes fringing the turgid stretch of the Castor River. The giant bullfrog from his position on a log marooned in the green Sargasso of weeds and algae, fixed me with his beady, obsidian eyes as though daring me to advance further. I was aware, of course, that a hunting season had been estab- lished for frogs, placing them in the same big game category as mountain sheep, deer and other fauna. I was also aware - and this had come as a surprise - that there were some thirty recogniz- ed professional frog hunters in the area between Ottawa and the Seaway. I wasn't sure whether - the frog had these impressive statistics at the tips of his webbed fingers but judging by the look of supreme contempt in his glassy yellow eyes, it was quite conceiv- able. What professional frog hunter has not heard of the giant frogs of the Castor? As I regarded my putative victim, or opponent, my heart beat faster, thinking of the tales I had heard of frog hunters being rendered hors de combat, or frog de combat by one kick from those mighty muscled legs; Beaver Bob Hunting frogs of the Castor of frog hunters being pulled from their boats and dragged down in the murky depths, never to reappear; of boats being over- turned by a single thurst from one of the mighty frogs of the Castor, upborne from the green depths. These feelings raced through my mind as I confronted the green monster on the logs, almost petrified by his glassy stare. I raised my paddle, knowing full well that the frog season was over, but determined to give an account of myself. If the monster launched himself at my throat, I would plead self defence. Perhaps, at this moment, while my reader shares with me the state of suspense in which I found myself, it might be, useful to describe in some detail the creature by which I was confront- ed. It was indeed a creature from another world, bearing little or no resemblance to animals normal- ly covered by the description of bull frog, whose legs delight gastronomes around the world. This was a creature of curious yellow colour, with only a tinge of green. Its enormous body placed it rather in the category of a Nile crocodile or hippo emerging from some African river, than a mere the giant frog. Its legs drawn up in position for an instant spring, were muscled and massive as those of a dray horse or an ox. But it was the peculiarity of its expression, more than anything else which filled me with a kind of stupefied amaze. Instead of the familiar vacuous look of the ordinary or garden frog, this great yellow creature was garn- ished, set off, personified, by a kind of sinister leer, deriving partly from the shape of his snout which was long and pointed and quite distinctly reptilian, rather than frog-like. Truly an off-putt- ing spectacle. This was a magnificent speci- men of the creature for which the mouths: of gourmets watered around the world. The great Castor frog, captured, killed, butchered and frozen and sent to the world's markets in such quantities that at last the Government was forced to step in and call a halt. An endangered species. As I braced myself for the forthcoming attack, the mighty creature with an almost con- temptuous shrug, slid off the log into the turbid green flood, leaving me alone with my thoughts. CLIP THIS AD FOR 10% OFF o,, ras = the rocking horse a children's store size 0-14 Come and see us for clothing and toys for the Holiday Season! OWNERS Gillian Rokosh & Suzanne Veh of Russell, Ont. 1430 Prince of Wales Dr. Rideau View Mall 224-2117 CLIP THIS AD FOR 10% OFF Gerry Leroux EXCAVATING Excavators -- Backhoes Dozers -- Loaders -- Ditching Res.: (613) 445-5603 Bus.: (613) 236-6822 RUSSELL, ONT. Box 39 KOA 3B0 Library News a la librairie Dussault d'Ottawa. Les gagnants sont: pour la liére et 2iéme année, Nicole Ouellette; pour la 3iéme année, Linda Paquette. Les enfants de cet age illustraient a leur facgon leur During October, children of the Russell primary schools particip- ated in a contest organized by the Russell Public Library. The younger children drew a picture of a library while the older ones made a book illustrat- ion of their own design. We had a great number of participants and had a very difficult time choosing the winners. We see Mrs. Kinkaid, our Librarian, giving the winners a gift certificate toward the pur- chase of books. The drawings are now on display in the library. The winners are: from grade 1 & 2, Nicole Ouellette; grades 3 & 4, Linda Paquette; grades 5 & 6, France Perras; grades 7 & 8, Yves Seguin. Nous sommes fiers a'annoncer les gagnants d'un_ concours organisé par la_ bibliotheque publique de Russell. Nous voyons sur la photo Mrs. Kinkaid remettant des certificats d'achat bibliothéque: pour la 5iéme année, France Perras; pour la 7iéme et 8iéme année, Yves Seguin. Les plus vieux étaient inviter a illustrer une couverture de livre avec le titre et le nom de ]'auteur. Félicitation encore une fois a nos gagnants. JAMES EADIE FARM SUPPLY -- Sales & Service -- Russell, Ont. 445-2990 FOR THE BEST OF BALDERSON CHEESE VISIT THE GREELY CHEESE SHOP [MeAdow DRIVE - OLD Hewy 31] e FOR, CHRISTMAS GIFTS WHY NOT ORDER A AKLS OR 1O LB. BLOCK. WE CAN ARRANGE SHIPPING FOR You. CALL Bal- \\W55 Leo Marion LOADER OPERATIONS SAND ® TOP SOIL ® MUCK AND FILL CRUSHED GRAVEL Russell, Ont. 445-5775 --