166 How To Make Fish Mounts 



Professionals use the following method for optimum perma- 

 nent preservation of fishes. The average specimen— 5 to 10 

 inches— is kept in the 10 per cent solution of Formalin from two 

 days to a week for adequate fixation. The specimen is removed 

 from the Formalin and soaked in water for two or three days 

 with at least a couple of changes of water. Then the fish is 

 transferred to 70 per cent ethyl alcohol, or to isopropyl alcohol, 

 which is better and cheaper. One change of alcohol is recom- 

 mended before permanent storage. The reason why profes- 

 sionals remove the specimens from Formalin and place them in 

 alcohol is that over a lengthy period of time the Formalin tends 

 to harden soft parts and soften bony tissue. Also, alcohol speci- 

 mens are easier to handle for study. 



However, amateur museum developers can forget about the 

 alcohol. It is expensive and not absolutely necessary. I have 

 hundreds of specimens which have been kept in a weak Forma- 

 lin solution for over twenty years, and they are just as good 

 today for display purposes as the day they were first preserved. 



The strength of the solution can be varied from the standard 

 10 per cent. Unusually large fishes ( anything bigger than about 

 a 5-pound bass ) can be placed in eight parts water to one part 

 Formalin, or very small specimens can be preserved in more 

 dilute Formalin, fifteen to one. Generallv, specimens over a few 

 inches in length should have an incision along the abdomen so 

 that the preserving solution can penetrate more easilv into the 

 insides ( Fig. 163 ) . Make the cut as high up on the side of the 

 abdomen as possible. And the right side is usually chosen for 

 the incision. This will leave the left side for the show side with 

 no marks on it. Use a sharp knife; the incision should be at 

 least half the length of the bodv cavity. Fish over 2% or 3 

 pounds should have additional cuts deep into the flesh to facili- 

 tate penetration of the Formalin. This can be done from the 

 outside. The specimen will make a neater display, however, if 

 these cuts are made through the slits that were made in the 

 body cavity. Or a fairly wide section can be removed as shown 

 in Fig. 164. Cut long and deeply into the muscle mass on each 

 side of the vertebral column (backbone). 



