220 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



drill the gill-cover, through which pass the skin-needle (No. 23, 

 but finer than shown) threaded with strong hemp, and so, 

 working towards the tail, lace the skin together, bringing the 

 , edges into apposition, but not allowing them to overlap. This 

 must be executed with care and patience and some little 

 " gumption," and, if the fish is well shaped and fairly tight on 

 that side, it is presumably so on the underneath or '' show " 

 side. From time to time, where defects occur, insert a little 

 more sawdust, pushed into place by tow, which should follow it 

 for this purpose, working it well to the underneath. Some- 

 times it may be expedient, or even necessary, to recommence 

 sewing from the tail end, and so meet the stitches from the 

 other. 



As the work progresses, and as soon as the stitches are 

 made fast around the two protruding wires, the fish may be 

 lifted cautiously by them to examine the under side, and 

 where any irregularities occur these should be made good. 

 Judicious tapping on the sewn side, with a rather heavy and flat 

 piece of wood shaped like a small bat, will often improve the 

 shape, which must conform, of course, to the original measure- 

 ments, and the skin must be shortened when it shows signs of 

 lengthening. 



The fish, having attained, on the upper surface, a fairly 

 respectable shape, is ready to be turned over, which is done 

 by measuring the distances between the wires of the artificial 

 body and marking corresponding distances upon a board some- 

 what larger than the fish, and, holes being made through the 

 board, it is brought down upon the wires, which are pulled 

 through, their ends turned over, and the fish and board reversed 

 by placing the hand underneath to support the weight of the 

 head and upper part of the trunk. The fish is now right side 

 uppermost, and as, no doubt, the putty may have been flattened 

 and pushed a little out of place in certain parts, notably the 



