FISHES.
The best method of securing the scales and colors of Fish, is, as soon as they are caught, to apply cambric or tissue paper to them, which will soon dry and adhere firmly; the body may be then taken out and the skin dried. When the skin is to be stuffed, roll it in a moist cloth, which will not only render it pliable, but also soften the tissue paper, so as it can be removed, when the colors will be found to be much brighter than by any other method with which we are yet acquainted.
LAMPREYS, EELS, AND OTHER FISH OF SIMILAR FORM.
These species may be skinned in the same manner as Frogs and Toads, by drawing the body through the mouth.
OF SKINNING FISH IN GENERAL.
The fish should be procured as fresh as possible, more particularly if it is one of those on which the scales are loosely attached. Lay it on one side and cut the gills with a pair of scissors; then introduce a little tow or piece of sponge into the place to prevent the blood from flowing during the process of skinning; let the fins be raised and gently extended, and two pieces of paper, something the shape of each, be placed under them, only extending a little beyond them. Coat the paper with a weak solution of gum-arabic, and put a piece of similar size on the top of the fin; by pressing these gently they will adhere and dry in a few minutes; these will keep the fins extended, and preserve them during the operation of stuffing. When these are dry, take a piece of tissue paper or thin silk, and press it gently on one side of the fish. The natural glutinous matter which covers the scales will be sufficient to make it adhere firmly; it will soon dry and form a strong protection to the scales during the skinning. Without this precaution the skin could not be removed from mullet, sea beaver, etc., without the scales being much disfigured, and losing many of them. Indeed, in such fishes, it is not amiss to put on an additional coating of paper with gum-water. This will not only secure the scales, but will also assist in keeping the proper form of the fish, by preventing distention.
When these papers are thoroughly dry, turn the fish on a soft cloth, with the uncovered side upwards, and open it with sharp scissors from the bottom of the tail-fin to nearly the point of the snout, keeping as correctly on the lateral line as possible, which can be seen in most fishes. The cheek should be afterwards cut open, so that the flesh may be removed from it; cut also the flesh from the opposite cheek, and supply its place by cotton. The skin must now be detached from the flesh, which will require some care at first. It must be commenced at the head, and separating it downwards with the assistance of a knife, and the fin-bones must be cut through with scissors. The spine must now be cut through close to the head, and also at the tail, and the body removed.
All the animal matter having been completely removed from the skin, the inside must be wiped dry, and the preservative applied in the same manner as directed for birds and quadrupeds. Great care is necessary to prevent it from being too much distended.
In Sharks and Large Fishes, an incision is made below the head, and extended to the fin of the tail; the skin is then separated on each side with a scalpel, cutting back as far as possible, so that the vertebræ may be cut close to the head. The tail is then skinned. The head is pushed inwards, and the skin passed over it above, and all the cartilage cut carefully away. Care must be taken not to enlarge the branchial openings too much, which would render it necessary to sew them up again, and it is not easy to hide a seam in a fish’s skin.
Diadon, Tetradon, and Balistes, and their congeners, are opened by the belly. The ostracion is enveloped in a skin, which consists of a single piece, the tail of which only is free and flexible. The opening in the belly must not be large; the tail must be opened, the flesh cut away, and stuffed with cotton.
STUFFING.
The skins, being properly anointed, are filled with tow or cotton. This must be so managed that there will be no prominences on the outside of the skin, which in fishes, is smooth and even for the most part. When properly filled, they must be sewed up, and set aside to dry in the air, but not exposed to the rays of the sun. In a few days, the papers with which the fins were extended are taken off, by damping them with a sponge. The glass eyes are now introduced, after filling the orbits with cotton and a little cement to secure them in their places. The skins may then be coated with turpentine varnish.
Sharks.—In stuffing these large fishes, it is necessary to use a stick for a center support. This must also enter the head, through the opening of the throat. If it is intended that the specimen shall be suspended from the ceiling, wire-hooks must be fastened into the wood. From these must be placed upright wires, so that they penetrate the skin, and pass through the back. Let the whole internal surface of the skin be well rubbed with the preservative. The body is then stuffed to its full size, and afterwards sewed up. The stuffing of the head must be completed through the orbits of the eyes, and also by the mouth. This finished, the glass eyes are inserted, as in other animals, and fixed by means of cement.
Many species of fish have semi-transparent cartilages connected with the eyes. These must be imitated with gum-arabic and powdered starch, as well as the cornea of the eyes.
The skins of all fish, which are similar to that of sharks, must be well supplied with spirits of turpentine, after they are mounted, more particularly the head and fins; but as they are not glossy, they do not require to be varnished.
When the fins are strong, it is necessary to keep them extended by means of a wire introduced through them.
In the Diadons, the chief thing to be attended to, beyond what we have stated, is, to take care that the spines, with which their skins are beset, are not broken or depressed in any way.
Salmon, Trout, Tench, Carp, Pike, etc., are very easily preserved, as the scales are firmly attached to the skin; and although they become somewhat dim from drying, their colors and brilliancy are considerably restored by means of varnish, if applied before they are thoroughly dried.
After a lapse of time, the varnish will rise into little scales; to remove these, nitric acid, diluted in water, must be applied to the whole external surface, which has the effect of completely taking off the varnish, or at least of raising it from the skin, which, when allowed to dry, can be wholly removed by rubbing it with a small brush. It may then be varnished again; when dry, it will ever afterwards continue quite solid.
What is above recommended will apply to almost all fishes.
LOBSTERS, CRABS, ETC.
In this class are included crabs, lobsters, and their congeners. These animals are all protected by a coriaceous covering, or shell, which is easily preserved, although there is considerable difficulty in preserving the colors of some species.
The flesh must be extracted from the large claws of lobsters and crabs by breaking the smallest possible piece from their points and introducing a small, crooked wire; in the smaller claws the flesh must be allowed to dry, and to facilitate this extremely small perforations should be made in opposite sides of the shell by means of a sharp, triangular awl, so as to allow the air to pass through it.
In lobsters the branchiæ and all the intestines must be cut away; the latter is effected by separating the body from the lower parts, and then extracting the internal parts with any sharp instrument; it should then be dried and cemented together, after being well anointed with the preservative. In crabs, the body, with all the limbs attached, is pulled separate from the back shell and the whole fleshy matter carefully picked out and preserving powder and the solution of corrosive sublimate applied to the different internal parts. In drying lobsters, crabs, etc., they should be exposed to a free current of air, but not to the sun’s rays, as it reddens the shells of crustaceous animals.
It need hardly be mentioned, that before applying the preservatives, the shells should be well washed with cold water.
The Hermit-Crab always takes possession of the shell of some turbinated Univalve as its domicile. These are easily preserved by pulling out the animal after it is dead. An incision is made in the soft tail of the animal, and the contents allowed to run off; it is then filled with cotton and imbued with the preservative; some cement is then put on the tail and the animal returned to its shell, which completes the operation of preserving.
In sending home crustaceous animals, the larger species should be emptied of their fleshy matter, which, however, is not necessary with the smaller species; they should be packed in middling-sized cases, and each wrapped in separate papers, with a thick bed of cotton or flax between each. In Lobsters, and the species which are allied to them, great care must be exercised in preserving the tentacula or feelers which emanate from their heads, as these become very brittle after they are dried. In proceeding to set up specimens which have been sent home, they should be immersed in cold water for some time, to give pliability to the tentacula and other parts, without which it will be impossible to set them up in any way without their breaking.
Mr. Bullock recommended that Crabs and all other crustaceous animals should be immersed in corrosive sublimate and water for an hour previous to their being put into attitudes.
When the joints become loose they are in general attached by glue, but the cement is much better.
N. B.—On no account whatever use warm water in cleaning crustaceous animals, as it is certain to change their colors.