Plaster Molds 25 



plaster will not set solidly next to the skin and definition will 

 be poor. This is not very important when the mold is intended 

 for use as a form for mounting the skin, but it is extremely im- 

 portant when the mold will be cast. First, go over the entire 

 fish with a brush and water. This will remove all excessive dirt 

 and slime. Then pour about half a pint of vinegar into a quart 

 of water and go over the whole fish. Rinse the fish well with 

 clean water. Next, mix a handful of alum in a quart of water 

 and again go over the fish. Pour the remaining alum water over 

 the fish and let it remain on the specimen while preparing the 

 next step. The alum has astringent qualities; that is, it tends to 

 contract or bind organic tissues and helps to alleviate the prob- 

 lem of slime and the oozing of fluids in the skin. Another, easier 

 method is to wipe the fish dry with a cloth and then simply 

 spray or brush a thin coat of lacquer over the specimen. Nearly 

 all hardware stores carry small cans of lacquer which spray 

 by simply pressing a release button. Lacquer dries almost in- 

 stantly and covers any slime on the fish. It is best to apply the 

 lacquer to the show side when the fish is all set and positioned 

 in plaster. 



Show Side and Fins. Choose the side which will be shown in 

 the mount ( called the show side ) and lay the fish down on the 

 other side. Clip the pectoral and ventral fins close to their 

 bases and set them aside in a glass of water so that they do not 

 dry out. A mold of these fins will be made later. Arrange the 

 other fins in position. This is accomplished by inserting pins or 

 pointed wire through the forepart of the fin and anchoring well 

 into the body. Do not stretch the fins but position them so that 

 thev look natural. 



Belly Contour. Next, check the belly or abdominal contour. 

 If it is sunken it should be filled either by an injection of water 

 with a hypodermic syringe or by cutting a slit (opposite show 

 side) and filling the abdominal cavity with pieces of cloth, 

 newspaper, moss, or any other suitable material. 



Shelf Around Fish. Now place the fish on a table or the 

 ground with its show side up and build a shelf of soil, sand, or 



