THE REPRODUCTION OF FISHES IN PAPER 249 



from wrinkles as possible, and gently patted down with a brush 

 (the shape shown on Plate II., Fig. E, being the best), that several 

 layers of tissue-paper should be followed by slightly thicker 

 paper, known as " cap-paper," and this finished by layers of thin 

 brown paper, all well pasted and not glued. By these means a 

 very fine model of a large " angel fish " was made, and still exists. 

 A more detailed description of some fishes, large and small, 

 made during the past few years by this direct method may be 

 useful. 



The Casting and Modelling of an unusually large Fish 



A ground, or six-gilled, shark, Notidanus griseus, was caught 

 in the North Sea, and sent from Grimsby, in 1893, as a 

 present from Mrs. Dobson of that port. It was 8 feet in length, 

 of proportionate girth, and of such a weight that four men 

 could barely lift it. Directly it arrived, it, being a trifle " high," 

 was thoroughly washed and brushed, and a mixture of salt 

 and weak solution of permanganate of potash was thrown over 

 it. It was then laid on its stomach, fins extended, upon the 

 paved floor of the casting-room, and a box built around it ; a 

 thin and narrow line of clay was then built along its back, not 

 quite in the centre, but in such a manner as to give rather more 

 to the better half (Here it may be noted that there is a " better 

 half" to most things, and that should be the show side whenever 

 possible.) All being ready, plaster was mixed in a large pan 

 or tub, and, when rather thicker than cream, was ladled out by 

 buckets and gently poured over the better side, covering it as 

 quickly as possible, fins and all, with a thin coating. This required 

 several bucketfuls before the whole was united, and required the 

 constant attention of three assistants, so that no part of the first 

 coat set before the whole was covered. This, when about a 

 quarter of an inch thick, or rather more, was allowed to partially 

 set, so that no excessive weight coming after should distort the 



