NEW METHODS OF PREPARING FISHES FOR MUSEUM EXHIBIT. 



By J. D. FIGGINS, 



American Museum oj Natural History, New York City. 



The three essential characters in a fish specimen perfectly prepared for 

 museum exhibition are accuracy of form and detail, durability, and lifelike col- 

 oring. As none of these features are assured by the old methods of casting and 

 mounting this class of specimens, the result has never proved entirely satisfac- 

 tory to those desiring a high class of work. Indeed, much experimenting and a 

 study of the various methods of mounting fishes convinced me that perfect work 

 was impossible; serious shrinkage is inevitable and a mounted fishskin repre- 

 sents nothing more than an inferior surface for painting. Plaster casts from 

 molds of the same material have the advantage of more accuracy of form, but 

 the preparation of the mold for casting and the defective plastic quality of even 

 very thin plaster is accentuated in the cast, with the result of a lamentable lack 

 of fine definition of detail. Besides, being extremely fragile, such casts are a 

 constant source of annoyance, and when even slightly broken their value is 

 seriously impaired, if not totally destroyed. 



One of the most difficult problems has been the painting of such specimens. 

 In a mounted fish the use of white lead is necessary to overcome the discoloration 

 due to the chemical action of preservatives; and, while the lead may be elimi- 

 nated in casts, the result is invariably flat and lacks the depth and brilliancy 

 of colors so essential to a representation of life. Coloring, however, must of 

 necessity remain in the hands of the artist to whom the work is assigned, and 

 I will but outline the several advantages the here-described methods present 

 for overcoming the chief difficulties. 



Briefly, this is the opportunity to discard the use of lead entirely; there 

 is necessity for using only the slightest stain to obtain the desired colors, 

 thus securing their full transparency and brilliancy while at the same time 

 preserving the minute detail which is invariably lost by the use of lead or 

 heavy color. 



In experimenting for an improvement in fishes for exhibition, the cost of 

 production has been kept in mind, and at the same time an opportunity for 



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