4rO soc. OF AM. TAXIDERMISTS, ANNUAL REPORT. 
witli the colors of the iish, and show them to the best advantage. 
In view of the above facts and also that half fishes can be placed in 
a variety of situations to suit the requirements of the case, that 
they gj’eatly economize room, and that each sjiecimen can have 
the background best suited to its colors, thereby making it an at- 
tractive specimen, I submit the proposition that, from the stand- 
point of the ichthyologist and curator, medallion fishes are in 
most cases more desirable than whole specimens. 
My method of mounting a fish medallion, or half a fish, is as 
follows: Supposing we have a specimen in the flesh, or entire 
in alcohol, I cut the fish in two, dividing the skin along the mid- 
dle of back and abdomen, and sawing through the bones of the 
head with a fine saw. Of course the caudal, ventral and dorsal 
fins must be left upon the half of the fish which is to be mount- 
ed. Procuring a thin board of tough wood, I lay tlie half fish 
upon it, placing it precisely as I intend it to be when mounted, and 
mark around it with a pencil. It is then easy to cut out the 
board in the shape of the fish, and bevel down the edge on the 
side which is uppermost, but taking care to not alter the outline 
at the back. Three or four holes may be made in a line along 
the middle of the board to allow the clay to dry rapidly. The 
half of the fish is then skinned, cleaned carefully and anointed 
with arsenical soap. I next cover with soft clay and tow mixed 
together, the board which is to form the back of my fish, and 
work it into the precise form and size of my half fish when in the 
flesh. I then lay the skin upon it, press it firmly down until the 
clay adheres to it and no air bubbles remain underneath, and sew 
the upper and lower edges of the skin together across the back 
of the board which gives the fish its outline. The head must be 
stuffed with clay also, the mouth put in shape and fastened, the 
eye set, the fins properly spread and pinned down, and the spec- 
imen is fastened upon a wide flat board by two screws put through 
it into tlie back-board of the fish. Finally a coat of white varnish 
and turpentine is applied to keep the scales from curling up at 
the edges in drying, and the specimen is ready to put away to 
dry. The process is completed in much less time and with much 
less difficulty than is occupied in mounting a whole specimen of 
the same size, and furthermore while the half specimen costs but 
little (if any) more than half as much, it occupies less room and is 
more easily provided with a permenant resting place. It is also 
