250 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



shape of the specimen, and the process was repeated several 

 times, the thickness of the coats, however, being gradually 

 increased until a sufficient thickness was attained, rising high 

 above the line of clay. Naturally it may be asked how this was 

 possible, and why the clay was not built up to the full height. 

 Because, had the clay been built along the back to the full 

 thickness required, the weight would have been too great for 

 the fish to bear on that side without distortion. Therefore, after 

 the first coats were on, the plaster was made a little thicker, 

 and, not being so liquid, was piled up, as it were, along the 

 edge above the clay by holding pieces of board just outside 

 this, and " dodging " any overflow. 



When the first side was completed the clay was removed, 

 and the edge of the plaster half mould examined for any thin 

 papery edges or overflows next the skin, and these being 

 trimmed off carefully, and the skin of the half of the fish still 

 exposed having been washed and freed from small chips of 

 plaster — not too easy a task with a rough-skinned fish such as 

 a shark, — the edges of the half mould were well oiled (a most 

 important matter, by the way, as those who forget it will find 

 to their cost), and the casting of the remaining half — with the 

 exception of the tail, which, lying flat, was included in the first 

 cast — was proceeded with in like manner, the plaster now 

 coming up to and against the edges of the first half mould. 

 The stomach was not cast, as in this case it was not necessary 

 to show that part. 



When of the same thickness as the other half, it was trimmed 

 until the edges of the join showed as an oily line, and the 

 whole was allowed to set for some time, and then came the 

 task of getting the fish out, or rather, in this case, the mould 

 from off the fish. This, it may be imagined, was no easy 

 matter, the dead weight being enormous, considering that, to 

 the original weight of the fish, was added that of the mould, 



