Museums of Natural History 199 



ment that she is working out at sea. To be aboard to observe 

 fishes in action is one of the most important parts of the job. 

 Ideas for exhibition displays will be gained, and color photog- 

 raphy of the live specimens, plus notes, will be possible. Last, 

 but not least, the specimens can be cared for aboard the craft— 

 and it is necessary regardless of the size of the fish. Small fishes 

 should be wrapped in wet sacks and placed in the bait box. 

 Large fishes that lie in the cockpit also have to be covered with 

 wet burlap and occasionally wetted down with buckets of salt 

 water. A specimen exposed to the sun and wind can be ruined 

 in a short time. 



One point to keep in mind— you may instruct the captain or 

 mate to look after the specimen, and in all good faith he will 

 agree to do so. However, as every angler knows, the captain 

 and mate have their hands full, looking for fish, rigging baits, 

 handling the boat, gaffing the fish, etc. Therefore, the specimen 

 will not receive any attention once it is on the deck of the boat, 

 regardless of how important it is to the museum. Furthermore, 

 it is unfair to ask a boat crew to look after specimens. In any 

 event the preparator or curator, who has an opportunity to dis- 

 cuss fish with experienced anglers, will be that much more 

 valuable to the institution that employs him. 



Obviously, I have omitted the step-by-step methods of the 

 entire procedure of molding and casting because it is treated in 

 detail in Chapters 2 and 3. 



