Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
FISHES MADE OF GLUE.
An Interesting Collection Of Water Creatures
in Fac Simiie.

in Fac simiie.
A VERY WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF
"A animals that live in the water il at present
being manufactured by the United States fish
commission for exhibition at the worlds fair in
Chicago. Somewhat less than 500 specimens
will illustrate the food and other economic
fishes and reptiles Of this country, each one
representing a species. Two experts said to
to be the most skillfui men living in
this line of work. are engaged in turning out
counterfeit presentments of things scaly and
finny in the utmost imaginable variety. The
extraordinary thing about these products is
that they not only look but feel like the real
creatures which they initiate, the very sub
stance being to the touch so like flesh itself
that 1t Is difficult for any one who ham
dies the objects and examines them
closely to realize that he is not dealing with
the animals themselves. So amazingly well are
they painted that their hues are the very tints
OF nature. For example, you can take frog
IN you hand, pinch him and admire tho beauty
OF his coloring without being able to distin-
Suish him from an actual batrachian just killed.
THE SECRET OF THIS ART,
which is quite 3 new one, lies mainly in the
composition employed as a material. Its basis
is glue Tho operator first takes the fish to be
u
the ordinary fashion. Then he places q wooden
core inside the mold-a fiat piece of plank of
the same general shape serves usually for the
purpose. the object being TO give stiffness
70 the finished result--and pours into the mold
,ne melted composition. Eight or ten hours
iAter the mold is opened and perfect counter
part OF tho fish as to shape is taken out So
admirably are all the details reproduced that
eacn scale Is distinct After the counterfeit
mas been hung up 10 dry for few days. it is
painted with oil cOlors in manner as near to
nature as possible, o fresh specimen not long
OUT OF water being used for copy. This done,
tue thlng Is finished. In the process OF mold
ing. stihening is given TO tine inns and tail with
ordinary wire mosquito netting.
FISHES Fob REPRODUCTION.
The fishes required for molding and copying
with colors are being sent to Washington as
FAST as required from the various stations of the
fish commission all over the country. Most OF
them atpresenta are being obtained from Wood 9
Hol. 1t may be that the experts will be
obliged to 90 themselves to Galveston, San
Francisco and elsewhere in order to secure
fresh specimens from the gulf, Pacific and
lake waters. Those forwarded hither are
wrapped in cloths as quickly as pos
sib!e after being captured and packed in
ice Tor shipment. Some superb bullfrogs have
just arrived from southwest Missouri. They
are two feet in length. Turtles of every edi-
Die variety will also be shown in the collection,
including the various tsrrapins, tho snapper,
the green turtles and others. In making models
OF thcm the shells and beaks of the animals
themselves are utilized. About dozen kinds
OK snakes, which are destructive to fishes, will
be represented incidentally.
GIANT cRAYFIsHEs.
HOLSTERS, crabs and other crustacea will
likewise be shown. Some giant crayishes
nearly foot long have como il with the big
frogs from the Ozark region. There is no
reason why they should not be introduced
very probably in the fresh waters all over the
United States, and it is not unlikely that the
hsh commission will take steps to accomplish
this end. The crayfish closely resembles the
lobster in appearance, its meat being much
more delicate in flavor, aud it would be
very nice indeed il the streams and ponds in
every state of the Union could be stocked with
this huge species. which is very prolific and can
be made at home anywhere. An interesting
burrowing variety of small sort is very plen-
tiful on the Potomac meadows near Washing
ton. 1t lives in holes with bottle-shaped en-
largements at the bottom, where the animal can
usually be found by digging. In the spring
each one builds over its burrow q sort of chin.
ney six or eight inches high. composed Of iumpl
Of mud which it fetches and piles ingeniously
on top Of one another in the shape Of dome
closed at the top.