Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1891-09-11
ARTIFICIAL FISHES.
Curious Realistic Work OF the United
states Fish Commission.

Curious Realistic Work Of the United
states Fish Commission.
A very wonderful collection Of animals
that live in the water is at present being
manufactured by the United States fish
commission for exhibition at the Worlds
fair In Chicago. Somewhat less than 800
specimens will illustrate the food and
other economic fishes and reptiles Of this
country, each one representing a species
Two experts, said to be the most skillful
men living In this line of work, are engaged
IN tnrnipg out counterfeit representations
Of things scaly aud fnny In the utmost
imaginable variety.
The extraordinary thing about these
nroduets is that they not only look but feel
ike the real creatures which they Initiate,
Tie very substance being to the touch so
like flesh itself that 1t is difficult for any
one who handles the objects and examines
THEM closely to realize that he is not deal
ing with the animals themselves. So amas-
ingly well are they painted that their hues
are the very tints Of nature. For example,
YOU can take frog in your, hand, pinch
him and admire the beauty OF his eoloring
without being able to distinguish him from
an actual bactrachian just killed.
The secret OF this art. which Is quite a
new one, lies mainly Ia the composition
employed as a material. It's basis is glue.
The operator first takes the fish to be imi-
tated and makes a plaster mold from Il in
the ordinary fashion Then he places a
wooden core inside the mOld-a fat piece
of plank OF the same general shape serves
usually for the purpose, the object being
To give stiffness TO the finished result-and
hours into the mold the melted compO-
sition.
Eight or ten hours later the mold is
opened, and a perfect counterpart OF the
fish. as to shape, is taken out So admir-
ably are all the details reproduced that
| each scale is distinct. After the counter
felt has been hung up to dry for a few
! DAYS It is painted with oil cOlors In man
per ~ near TO nature as possible, fresh
specimen not long out of water being used
( for a COPY. This done the thing Is fin.
| ished. In the process Of molding stihen'
ing is given to the fms and tail with ordi
| nary wire mosquito netting.
The fishes required for mOlding and copy
! lug with colors are being sent to Washing
! ton as fast as required from the varieui
| stations OF the fish commission all over the
I country. Most Of them at present are be
/ ing obtained from Woods Holl It MAJ
/ be that the experts will be obliged to g
I themselves to Galveston, San Francisco
land elsewhere In order to secure fresh spect
mems from the gulf, Pacific and lak'
| waters.
Those forwarded hither are wrapped il
cloths as quickly as possible after being
| captured and packed I'm ice for shipment
Some superb bullfrogs have just arrived
from southwest Missouri. They are tw'
feet in length. Turtles OF every edl0p
variety will also be shown in the collection
including the various terrapins, the snap
per, the green turtle and others. In max
ing models Of them the shells and beaks
the animals themselves are utilized. AbOu
a dozen kinds Of snakes which are destruo
tive to fishes will be represented inciden
tally.
Holsters, crabs and other crustacea vii
likewise be shown. Some giant crayhshe
nearly a foot long have come in with tn
big frogs from the Ozark region Wash
ingtOn Letter.