The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-21
ARTIFICIAL FISHES.
Curious Realistic Work of the United
States Fish Commission.

OuTlOQ5 n5A!lSblC VOTE Vi LLl6 OQlGcO
States Fish Commission.
From the FeD York Sun.
WASHINGTON, Aug. ia very wonder
full collection of animals that live in the
water is at present being manufactured by
the United States fish commission for exhi-
bition at the worlds fair in Chicago.
Somewhat less than 500 specimens will illus
trate the food and other economic fishes and
reptiles of this country,, each one represent
ing q species. Two experts, said to be the
most skillful men living in this line of work,
are engaged 10 turning out counterfeit rep
reservations of things scaly aud finny 10
the utmost imaginable variety. The
extraordinary thing about these
products is tbat they not only look but feel
like the real creatures which they initiate,
the very substance being TO the touch SO like
flesh itself that 10 is dinicult for any one
who handles the objects and examines them
closely to re Ilize 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 a frog in your hand, pinch him and
admire the beauty of his coloring. without
being able to distinguish him from an
actual batrachian just killed.
The secret of this art. which is quite
new one, lies mainly in the composition en-
ployed as Il material. Its basis is glue The
operator first takes the fish to be initiated
and makes plaster mould from 1T in the
ordinary fashion. Then he places a wooden
core inside the mould-a fiat piece OF plank
of the same general shape serves usually for
the purpose, the object being to give stiff
ness TO the flushed resultant pours into
the mould the melted composition. Eight
or ten hours later the mould is opened. and
aperfect counterpart of the fish, as 10 shape,
is taken out So admirably are all the de-
tails reproduced that each scale is distinct.
After the counterfeit has been hung up to
dry for few days it is painted with oil
colors in manner as near to nature as pos
sible, fresh specimen not long out of water
being used fer copy. This done, the thing
is finished. In the process Of moulding
stitfening is given TO the fins and tail with
ordinary wire mosquito netting.
The fishes required for moulding and
copying with colors are being sent TO " ash
ington as fast as required from the various
stations of the fish commission all over the
country. Most of them at present are being
| obtained from Woods Holl. 1t may be that
the experts will be Obliged to go themselves
TO Galveston, San Francisco, and elsewhere
In order to secure fresh specimens from the
Gulf, Pacific and lake waters. Those for
warded hither are wrapped in cloths as
quickly as possible after being captured
| and packed i'll ice for shipment. Some SUI
perb bullfrogs have just arrived from
Southwest Missouri. They are two feet in
length. Turtles of every edible variety
will also he shown in the collection, iu-
GLIDING the various terrapins, the snapper.
the green turtle aud Others. In making
models of them the shells and beaks Of the
animals themselves are utilized. About a
dozen kinds of snakes which are destructive
to fishes will be represented incidentally
Lobsters crabs and other crustacea will
likewise be shown. Some giant crayfishes
nearly a foot long have come in with the
big frogs from the Ozark region. There is
no reason why they should not be intro
duced very prohtably in the fresh waters all
over the United States, and it is not I'M
likely that the fish commission will take
steps to accomplish this end. The crayf1sh
closely resembles the lobster in appearance.
its meat being much more delicate in flavor,
aud it would be very nice indeed if
the streams and ponds in every state
of the union could be stocked with this
huge species, which is very prolific, a I'd can
be made at home anywhere. An interest
ing burrowing variety of a small sort is
very plentiful on the Potomac meadows
near Washington. 1t lives in holes, with
bottle shaped engagements at the bottom,
where the animal can usually be found by
digging. In the spring each one builds over
its burrow q sort of chimney six or eight
inches high, composed OF Jumps of mud,
which it fe ches and piles ingeniously on top
of one another in the shane Of a dome,
closed at the top.