Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-03
FISH MADE IN CHICAGO.
So Natural As to BE Scarcely Distinguish
able from the Genuine.

able from the Genuine.
Chicago Herald.
Two experts, said 10 be the most skill
full men living in their line of work, are
now engaged in making counterfeit re-
presentations OF all fish found in Ameri-
can waters. They are working under
the direction of the United States fish
commission, and when their work is
done, ii will be sent to Chicago for ex-
hibition at the Worlds Fair. These
workmen will reproduce every animal
that lives in the water. Somewhat less
that 500 specimens will illustrate the
food and other economic fishes and rep
tiles of this country, each one represent
ing species. Tho extraordinary thing
about these artificial fishes is that they
not only look, but also feel like the real
creatures which they initiate, the very
substance being TO the touch SC ike
flesh itself that Il is difficult for any one
who handles the objects and examine
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 a in
your hand, pinch him and adm %
beauty Of his colorlng without bel le
to distinguish him from an &C. ia
trachian just killed.
The secret of this art, which ute
n new one. lies mainly in the G. ST.
ton employed as material. IT. llais
Is glue. Tho operator first takes the fish
to be initiated and makes a plaster
mould from II in the ordinary fashion.
nfhoy, ha Vii n ,VrrAasl t,s tIa tlNa
mould--a flat piece of plahk Of the same
general shape serves usually for the pur-
pose, the object being to give Stiffness to
the finished resultant pouis into the
mould the melted composition. Eight
or ten hours later the mould is opened
and perfect counterpart of the fish, as
20 shape, is taken out. So admirably
are all the details reproduced that each
scale is distinct. After the counterfeit
has been hung to dry for few days it
is painted with oil colors in manner
as near To nature as possible, fresh
specimen, not long out of water being
used for copy. This done the thing Is
finished. In the process OF moulding,
stiffening is given to the fins and tail
with ordinary wire mosquito netting.
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 at
present are being obtained from Woods
Iloll. 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 for
warded to Washington are wrapped in
cloths as quickly as possible after being
captured and packed In ice for shipment.
Some superb bullfrogs have just arrived
from southwest Missouri. They are two
feet in length. Turtles Of every edible
variety viii also be shown in the collec-
ton, including the various terrapins, the
snapper, the green turtle and others. In
making models Of them the shells and
beaks Of the animals themselves are
utilized. About dozen kinds Of snakes
which are destructive TO fishes will be
represented incidentally,
HOLSTERS, crabs and other crustacea
will likewise be shown. Some giant
cyayfish nearly o foot long have come
in with tue big frogs from the Ozark re-
gion. There is no reason why these
should not be introduced very profita-
bly, in the fresh waters all over the
United States, and it is not unlikely that
the fish commission will take steps to
accomplish this end