46 



How To Make Fish Mounts 



Flow the plaster into the hollow of the mold, starting at one 

 end. Let the hollow fill first; then allow the plaster to run onto 

 the shelf of the mold. Now wait until the plaster starts setting 

 a bit and reaches a heavy whipped-cream-like consistency. 

 Trowel enough plaster over all until a thickness of about % inch 

 is evident on the shelf of the mold. In other words, the plaque 

 will be constructed of plaster % inch thick. If the fish is more 

 than 14 to 16 inches in length, the plaque can be reinforced 

 with tow or sisal dipped in plaster. Insert two pieces of looped 



Fig. 45. Sturgeon cast in plaster. 



wire into the back of the cast while the plaster is still soft. Turn 

 the ends so that the wire will not pull out. These loops will 

 serve as eye-hooks to hold a wire for hanging purposes. An- 

 other method is to insert a looped wire into the center of the 

 top edge of the plaque. 



Run a trowel or a knife along the edge of the cast before the 

 plaster is set. It is easier to obtain a clean, smooth edge in this 

 manner rather than by hacking away at the hard cast when it is 

 removed from the mold. 



A mold that is to be used for a plaster cast should be made 

 thin and without sisal or tow reinforcements so that it can be 

 chipped away easily from the cast. A small /4-inch chisel and a 



