THE REPRODUCTION OF FISHES IN PLASTER 233 



should be presented lying upon a tablet, also of plaster, with- 

 out a blemish, and by this means easy subjects, such as perch, 

 roach, or even much larger fresh- and salt-water fishes, can be 

 cast, and the mould may make several copies if the same care 

 be exercised. See Fig. 2, Plate XII., which is a model made 

 from Fig. i. 



With some of the tools Nos. 29 to 36 and a long "firmer" 

 chisel, the fins, where spread, may be undercut and the tablet 

 planed with advantage, and, therefore, in an hour a fish may 

 be moulded, cast, and finished all but colouring — for which, of 

 course, the plaster must be dry. 



A much more scientific method, however, and one which 

 gives far better results, is the following : — 



Improved Method of casting Fishes 



The specimen, having been kept for a few hours in any of the 

 media mentioned on the preceding page, and well washed therein, 

 is laid, better side uppermost, on a slab of slate or thick glass if 

 a flat fish, but if, say, a perch, it will be best to lay it on a 

 piece of board a little larger than itself. Other small pieces of 

 half-inch board, say 4" x 3" and 6" X 3", and some putty 

 being provided, the pieces of board are arranged to lie under- 

 neath and support the dorsal, the lower ventral, the anal, and 

 caudal fins, but not the uppermost ventral and pectoral fins, 

 care being taken that the edges of the small pieces of wood 

 do not meet under any of the fins, especially the tail, or an 

 unnatural and unsightly ridge will occur in the subsequent 

 casting. 



Where the sides of the pieces of wood come against the 

 sides of the fish but do not quite touch, pack in putty with a 

 modelling-tool, and also where gaps occur between the end of 

 one piece of wood and another. Where the pieces of board 

 are not thick enough to support the fins at the height required, 



