go How To Make Fish Mounts 



and the tail on another. Many years have passed since that 

 memorable day, but I still display the skin and tail of that 

 brown trout as one of the most cherished possessions in my 

 tackle room. 



My first whole fish mount was a yellow perch that was 

 skinned and stuffed with plaster. I filled the eye socket with 

 plaster and painted in a black pupil. Then I varnished the 

 fish and screwed a backboard to it. I mounted that perch at the 

 age of nine. The point I am trying to make is that the trout 

 skin and the perch were not treated with gasoline or arsenic or 

 any type of preservative, and yet thev appear to be in the same 

 condition today as they were many years ago. 



In the field, when conservation of time is important, it is not 

 necessary to do a thorough job. The body of the fish must be 

 removed from the skin— a job that does not require much time. 

 Also, snip out the gills and eyes. But the head need not be 

 cleaned, and the fine work of removing flesh from the skin and 

 base of fins need not be carried out. However, be sure to do a 

 thorough job of salting. 



SKIN MOUNTS 



Mounted Skins 



One of the easiest methods of preserving a fish skin for dis- 

 play is to mount the skin of only one complete side. Clean the 

 slime from the fish and remove the skin from the body. Then, 

 with a sharp knife or scissors cut the skin along the median line 

 of the back and belly. Of course, leave the tail and fins on the 

 side of the skin which is to be preserved. Only one of the 

 abdominal or ventral fins will be kept because the skin is cut 

 down the middle of the belly. After cleaning and wiping away 

 as much of the moisture as possible, the skin is brushed with 

 glue (ten parts glue to one part glycerin) and placed on the 

 intended plaque or backboard. Place wax paper over the skin, 

 add layers of newspaper over it, and apply some weight over all. 



