THE REPRODUCTION OF FISHES IN PAPER 253 



put on diagonally, and then left to dry. Where the edges were 

 obstinately disinclined to come together they were left until 

 next day, or until dry, and the strips of calico applied at those 

 points. Strips of brown paper next covered all in four thick- 

 nesses, crossing the work again, and when dry, the outside, 

 where open or not quite level, and the cut near the gills were 

 made up with tissue-paper, pasted and rolled up, and wedged in 

 as pulp. Finally, a little pasted tissue-paper over the seams 

 made all good. 



Although so strong when dried that two men, equal to 

 a weight of 22 stone, sat upon it without the least fear, 

 and without making any impression upon the model, and 

 although the fish, as before stated, weighed some hundred- 

 weights, yet the finished model was — incredible though it 

 seems — but 9 lbs. 1 2 oz. in weight ! Hence it may be 

 claimed that, having absolute truth of detail, strength, a certain 

 elasticity, and inappreciable weight, and that more copies than 

 one can be made, the paper processes, both direct and pulped, 

 must supersede all other methods for the delineation of large 

 objects for museum purposes. 



As it was inexpedient to exhibit it as if lying extended upon 

 its stomach on the ground, as at first intended, it was decided 

 to show it suspended upon a wall without any back-board, and 

 therefore some half-inch pieces of deal were procured, and one, 

 intended as the supporting centre-board, was cut 4 feet 6 

 inches in length, by 3 inches in breadth, and a ^ inch in 

 thickness. 



One end (that by the tail) was cut diagonally, and was 

 arranged to rest within and against the post-axial border of the 

 anal fin, this being a distance of exactly 3 feet from the 

 extreme tip of the tail ; and the other end lay inside, within a 

 foot of the snout. Two " key-holes," i inch in length by 

 a \ inch in width, were cut crosswise in the board, one at 



