Plaster Molds 3 1 



scraped until the line of demarcation can be seen clearly be- 

 tween the halves. Insert the chisel again and the mold halves 

 will part cleanly. 



Remove the fish without damaging the mold detail. I usually 

 start by carefully inserting a fingernail under a corner of the 

 tail fin and then gradually pull the fish's body up and toward the 

 head. Clear away any bits of plaster on and around the shelves 

 of the mold that might prevent the halves from coming together 

 snugly. Place the halves together and set the mold aside until 

 dried and ready for casting. As a protection, I always tie wire 

 around each end of the mold so that nosey people will not open 

 it and run their fingernails over the inside. A mold set over a 

 furnace will dry quicklv. During summer when furnaces are 

 shut off, the mold should be placed outdoors or in a room with 

 open windows. The fish cannot be cast unless the mold has lost 

 most of its moisture. A fish mold 2 or 3 feet long should be dry 

 enough within two or three days if placed over a furnace or in 

 a heated room. 



Molding in the Field 



Molding techniques in the field and at home or in the labora- 

 tory are basically the same, but through years of trial and error 

 I have found modifications in the process which are advan- 

 tageous in each situation. The best possible results in the even- 

 tual cast are obtained from a mold which is completed as soon 

 as possible after the fish is caught, and that means the same day 

 or the next morning. This method is a must for scientific museum 

 workers, and more information on it is found in Chapter 10. 

 However, an angler who is vacationing and lives in a tent, cabin, 

 or cottage, not too far from shore, may try a hand at field mold- 

 ing during the lull of the fishing day. 



Select a spot in the shade, if possible, for the temporary 

 laboratory. Fresh water is necessary. If a faucet is not handy, 

 fill a barrel or some 5-gallon tins with water from a distant water 

 tap or from the lake and transport the water to the spot where 

 the work is to take place. 



