d knife and the contents removed, to be later replaced with
clay.

Place the skin in water to loosen the paper--if any has been
used--carefully washing the skin and wetting the fins and tail
thoroughly. You may allow the skin to remain in the water until you are
ready to put it back in the mold, but not longer than a few hours.

FILLING.--Brush the sand from the mold, and if the upper edge is uneven,
smooth it with a knife so that it will be perfectly straight. Should
there be any rough places on the inside of the mold, carefully scrape
them down with the skin scraper.

[Illustration: INSIDE BOARD. (Fig. 6)]

Cut out roughly a piece of soft pine one-half to one inch thick the
shape of the outline of the fish, but somewhat smaller, using the mold
as a guide. One side will, of course, be flat, and that side should be
uppermost when placed in the mold. Work up with water a sufficient
quantity of clay to about the consistency of fresh putty. Place the mold
on your bench or table, resting it on something soft (such as a piece of
old carpet or burlap) to prevent its breaking. Drain the water from the
skin and put it back into the mold, adjusting it nicely. The median line
will guide you. See that the head, fins and tail occupy the same places
they did before. Pour a little alcohol on the skin inside and let it run
along the bases of the fins and tail, over the entire inner surface of
the skin and into the head to preserve any bits of flesh that may
possibly remain. Drain off the surplus alcohol. Fill the adipose fin (if
the fish has one) with clay. Sprinkle powdered arsenic over the entire
inside of the skin and head. Do not use more than will readily adhere.

The chances are that you removed more or less of the silvery lining of
the skin. Whether you did or not, cover the entire inner surface of the
skin of the cheek and body with two or three thicknesses of aluminum
leaf. Do not cover the entire surface at once. Cover a small part at a
time, and then put on top of the leaf enough clay to cover it,
commencing at the head and continuing to the tail. Replace the muscles
and cartilage of the head with clay. Be sure to keep the skin properly
adjusted to the mold. See that the fins and the tail remain in their
proper places and that they are kept covered with wet cloths.

Flatten out the clay (a small quantity at a time) with the fingers and
cover the inside of the skin to the depth of about one-eighth of an
inch, pressing