CCCVII 



purpose of protecting small specimons, or small perforated tin 

 boxos would answer the same pur])ose. 



ord. — Choosing and preparing ihc spedmena. — Fish need not be 

 above G or 8 inches in lenstii, luiK'ss of an eel-like shape, 

 when tliey should 1)0 (wicc that ]enir(h ; care must be taken 

 to obtain them fresh; a long^ slit should IxMuade up their ab- 

 domens, the intestines, except the air-blaJder, removed, and 

 the abdominal cavity well washed out. If it is desired to 

 preserve the intestines, they should be carefully and ffontly 

 smeared over witli a thin layer of arsenical iiaste. Sliarks, 

 rays, and sJcates sliouhl never be less than 10 inclies in lonj^th 

 excludinn- the tail, whilst larg-cr ones should bo skinned, care 

 being- taken not to injure the jaws or the teeth. 



Uh. — The ireaimenl of the .specimen aflcr it has been prepared. — 

 The first thing to be done to every specimen, whilst movin<r 

 about, is to attach .a distinguishing mark to it. This may be 

 accomplished by appending a piece of tin having a number 

 scratched upon it, or a bit of parchment on which one has been 

 inscribed in indelible ink (or even in common dark ink if allowed 

 to thorongbly dry previous to being jnit in the s|nrit). The 

 locality where taken, and the native name when procurable, 

 should be invariably recorded. The specimens may now be 

 jilaced inside the first or soaking jar, or tin can full of spirit, 

 being careful that the fish should not fill up above half of the 

 receptacle in Lot weather, or two-thirds in the cold season. 

 Here they may be left to soak for six or eight days, and then 

 be removed, washed, and placed in a second or intermediate jar 

 of clean spirit, from whence they may be finally removed after 

 ten days' soaking. Each must now (about 16 or 18 days after 

 capture, according to their size) be rolled up securely in rag, and 

 packed tightly in a case of fresh spirit. lu rolling specimens 

 up in rag, no two should touch each olher. Unless tlius 

 secured, their fins will be destroj'cd when marching, their scales 

 rubbed off, and most probably they will be irretrievably ruined. 

 'I'lie spirit in the first and second jars can be used several times 

 over for the first process in fish-soaking ; when it becomes 

 cloudy and dirty, it should bo re-distilled. 

 hth. — The specimens for which this process is unsnifed nvc the larger 

 fish, as it is presumed the collector will not carry a cask of 

 spirits in order to secure them. Large sharks, rays, and skates 

 it is intended to keep, should be skinned and preserved by 

 means of arsenical soaji, and well soaked in turpentine. The 

 mode of skinning fish is too well known to reijuire detailing 

 here. 



Finis. 



