15 
sharks and some others the incision is extended from the head 
to the tail fin. By dissecting back, the vertebra is reached 
near the head, and separated, and the whole body dissected out 
and removed. The skin is then drawn over the head to admit 
of the removal of such portions of the flesh and cartilage as 
may be adhering to it. The skin is then slightly stuffed, after 
being anointed or rubbed with a preservative, and sowed up. 
Eels may be skinned in the same manner as frogs. 
It is not necessary to dwell on the preparation of the skele¬ 
tons of fishes. They generally require more care than might 
be expected from any other than a practised naturalist. 
The best method of preserving fishes, of a small or even 
moderately large size, will be in spirits. These, even of a foot in 
length, may be preserved in this way, if the collector take the 
precaution, which should always be done, of making a small 
incision into the abdomen to admit the spirits into the in¬ 
terior. They may be packed in glass or earthen ware, but 
the most convenient method is the following, which may also 
be applied to reptiles, insects, &c.: Take a water-tight keg, re¬ 
move one of the heads, and commence by covering the bottom 
with a layer of tow or flax wetted with spirits. On this pack 
a layer of fishes, then another layer of wetted tow or flax, fol¬ 
lowed by another layer of fishes, and so on until the keg is 
filled. The packer should also take the precaution to inter¬ 
pose the wetted tow or flax between the fish and the sides of 
the keg. The keg is then closed or headed up, a small hole 
bored into it, and as much more spirits introduced as it will 
hold or absorb. This hole then being tightly plugged, the 
keg and its contents may be transported any distance. 
Except where spirits of wine is particularly mentioned, the 
spirits used for preservation should be as nearly colorless as 
possible and about the strength called fourth proof. 
Fish and any other animal packed in this Avay, or preserve^ 
in spirits, should have a small piece of wood or lead attached 
to it, with a mark corresponding to one in the collector’s notes. 
These notes should be as full as possible, giving the common 
name, if it have one, its locality, and time at which taken, its 
habits, ordinary size, uses, &c. 
