Skinning and Skin Mounts 9 1 



After the fish skin is thoroughly dry, paint it and give the skin 

 and backboard a coat of varnish. An attractive collection of 

 trophies can be produced very easily in this manner. Informa- 

 tion on the weight of the fish, and when and where caught, can 

 be entered on each plaque to add interest to the collection. 



Excelsior Body 



The most primitive method of fish mounting, which is still 

 practiced, is the placement of the skin over an artificial body or 

 mannequin. The worst type of body for mounting is produced 

 by the use of excelsior and thread over a core of wood. The 

 artificial body must be in the shape of the original but slightly 

 smaller. Then a thin coat of clay, papier-mache, varnish, or 

 other type of coating is placed over the mannequin so that it 

 becomes smooth and will not absorb moisture. Papier-mache 

 is stuffed into the head, and the skin is draped around the 

 artificial body. Incidentally, forget about papier-mache; it is 

 an outmoded material. The excelsior body method of mount- 

 ing a fish is hopeless; do not use it. 



Wood Mannequin 



This method is an improvement over the excelsior body. 

 Any angler handy with carpenter tools may find it interesting. 

 Outline the fish on paper and then transfer the outline onto a 

 block of wood at least as wide as the body of the fish. A few 

 pieces of wood may have to be glued together. Choose soft 

 wood such as white pine, which is easy to work. Cut out the 

 fish along the outline. If a band saw is not available, use any 

 saw and finish the job with a wood rasp. Now, with cutting 

 tools and rasps proceed to produce a wooden body which re- 

 sembles the original body of the fish as closely as possible— all 

 measurements must be exact. The wooden form should fit into 

 the head of the fish but not tightly— leave some room for casting 

 compound. If the mount is to have an open mouth, cut the 

 wood accordingly. Rough sandpaper the wooden body and 



