success by
the ordinary methods. There are some individuals which it is impossible
for the taxidermist to prepare the skins of, so as to retain a natural
appearance for any length of time. They can only be represented by casts
painted to the best of the artist's ability.

Most of the varieties of medium and large game fishes can be mounted by
the average taxidermist and it is with these we are mostly concerned.
There are almost as many methods of mounting fish as there are
operators, each having some pet kink of real or fancied superiority.

As often as otherwise fish are mounted in the medallion style, with one
side only showing. This is especially adapted to display on walls and
panels. For filling material everything from sawdust to plaster has been
employed but as good results as any are secured by a hard core of the
approximate size of the skinned fish, coated with some plastic
substances which is moulded into shape through the skin.

In skinning some fish the scales must be protected by pasting thin paper
over them but ordinarily it is sufficient to keep the skin wet and not
allow it to dry out until it is complete. A piece of oil cloth is good
to work on in skinning fish or birds either. Some taxidermists have a
large pane of glass set flush in a table top for this purpose.

[Illustration: FISH BEDDED IN SAND WITH PLASTER MOULD OF UPPER HALF.]

With a freshly caught fish at hand which is to be made into a medallion
the process is about as follows: Before skinning lay it flat on one side
on a piece of soft wood board of the proper thickness and mark out its
outline. Though only one side of the mounted fish shows, a little more
than precisely one half is preserved in order to include the tail, the
vertical and dorsal fins and also to give an appearance of rotundity.

Leaving this margin all around, the skin is cut away from the side
which, on account of damage or other reason, is selected for the back.
The head must be cut through with chisel or a fine saw. Severing the
bones at the base of the fins with the scissors the whole body is
removed by cutting the spinal column at its junction with the skull.

In skinning fish you will note a white layer, like tin foil, which gives
the fish its silvery color. Do not disturb this if possible. Remove all
surplus flesh, cut away the gills and interior of head and if at all
greasy (what fish is not) treat to a bath in gasoline. Use absorbent,
sawdust or meal to remove