92 How To Make Fish Mounts 



then follow with fine sandpaper. The body must be without 

 flaws and absolutely smooth. Apply a couple of coats of shellac 

 to the body, and it is now ready to receive the skin. 



Process the skin as described previously. Brush a thin coat 

 of carpenter's glue and glycerin (see Chapter 12) around the 

 wooden form. Push some casting compound into the bases of 

 the tail and fins, and then place the skin around the form. Tack 

 the skin along the incision on the back side. Now, force some 

 compound into the head and through the mouth and gill open- 

 ing; build out the cheeks, eye socket, jaws, etc. If the mount 

 has an open mouth, place more of the compound inside and 

 model it directly as the compound begins to set. 



Model the compound into place around the base of the tail 

 and fins by pressing and pushing the material here and there 

 from the outside with thumb and fingers. The fins and tail are 

 soft and pliable but will set in a shrivelled and awkward position 

 unless supported until dried with stiff paper and clips (Fig. 

 101 ) . Do not pull the fins away from the body. After the fish 

 has dried— the time depends upon weather or amount of heat in 

 a room— clean out the eye socket, add some casting compound 

 or hot wax, and insert the glass eye (see Chapter 5). If the 

 specimen is thoroughly dry, shrinkage will appear about the 

 head— cheeks, lips, jaws, etc. It is not necessary, but if the 

 angler desires a better mount, the head should be reconstructed 

 to its former full contours by brushing on melted wax. If the 

 scales show a tendency to lift, brush a thin coat of glue over 

 them. 



Shellac the entire fish. Thin down the shellac with alcohol 

 so that it will flow on easily and not leave brush marks. Screw 

 a piece of wood temporarily onto the back of the fish to support 

 it while painting (see Chapter 5). The best approach is to 

 select a piece of wood 3 or 4 inches wide and about a foot and 

 a half in length. With the fish attached to it, the upright can 

 be placed in a vise and moved up or down to the most com- 

 fortable height for painting. Finish the wooden plaque before 

 attaching the fish to it. A screw eye may be inserted into the 

 back of the fish instead for hanging on the wall. 



