2Q0 METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY, 



But, for the present, we have skinned our fish for the purpose of 

 mounting it at once. The best method for mounting the skin of a 

 fish, when there is no decided curve to be given to the body, is by- 

 carving a block of soft wood to about the size and shape of the car- 

 cass. This should be surrounded with potter's clay, mixed with 

 chopped tow. In this wooden center-board two holes should be bored 

 at a proper distance apart, along the abdominal line, to receive the 

 threaded ends of the brass rods which are to support the fish when 

 mounted on a pedestal, similar to Fig. o, Plate LXXX. These brass 

 rods must be threaded at the ends which are to go into the pedestal, 

 that they may be secured by nuts beneath. Above the pedestal an 

 ornamental rosette should finish off the brass standards, just above the 

 pedestal. This may be seen in Fig. 4, Plate LXXXII, the brass stand- 

 ard on which the crab is mounted. The best material in which to 

 imbed the artificial eyes of fish is papier-mache or potter's clay, mixed 

 with strong glue water. 



If you desire to mount a fish, giving tiie body a curve, as when it 

 comes struggling from the water, the best mode of procedure is to 

 make a core of tow around a piece of wire, to which you can give the 

 proper bend. This core should very nearly fit the skin, and the end ol 

 the wire should be anchored in the skull cavity. Now apply clay all 

 over this core and insert it in the skin. When this is in position, and 

 while you are sewing up the seam, you can add or take away whenever 

 it is necessary to give the proper form to the fish. Some prefer to fill 

 the skin entirely with finely chopped tow, around a center-board. 



The advantages of clay, as a filling, over fibrous material, in 

 special cases, has been fully discussed in this work. The rays may be 

 taken as significant examples of failures when fibrous materials are 

 exclusively introduced, and will demonstrate the value of clay as a 

 filling material when it is necessary to secure thinness and smoothness. 

 Even with the use of clay the most experienced taxidermists fail to 

 make " a thing of beauty a joy forever " out of a ray. 



Large fishes such as sharks may be mounted by using a center- 

 board, and the filling should be hackled hay or straw. 



Mr. Walker's method of mounting a fish is to cut a section out of 

 one side — using about one-half of the fish. The skin is filled with^ 

 cotton or tow. When thus filled the edges of the skin are fastened 

 with small tacks to a board previously cut to the proper shape. This 

 makes a very nice fish medallion, and, with the use of clay, can be 

 very much improved. The fins of fishes should be spread out and 



