The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1937-02-01
PROGRESS IN
TAHIDE:RMY AT
GOVT. SCHOOL

Progress in taxioermy in the Gov
eminent school at Douglas is shown
4 according to the following article
by instructor Roy j. Dupree:
Demonstrators ana experiments
prove to be a profitable asset to the
students of the Taxiderny class in
! the Government School at Dougas.
] Due to an economic standpoint dolls
were selected for use i'll casting and
modelling. From these uses attrac-
tive rolls were duplicated, which
the students may make at home AZ
odd times at a good profit. They
may be sold to tourists, local trad5
or if pressure be applied in sales
manship, the quantity Of dolls for
commercial supply is practically I'M
limited. This could create a profess
sion and industry that Alaska would
be proud to possess, which in turn
would help keep some of the good
American money at home. Instead
millions are spent annually with
Germany, Japan and other countries
for dolls alone. OF course the U.S.A.
is manufacturing dolls to a certain
extent.
Readers OF this item may won
der what the making of dolls has to
do with the art Of Taxidermy, think
ing only of the contrast between a
beautiful attractive doll and the ac-
tual animal structures in natural
stages. I admit freely, looking at the
subject in this relative light, that
there is we'll decided contrast
But on the other side, the story
! as in many other cases through
lack of knowledge within the pub
lie as whole, does not conceive that
in primary economical steps of the
art of Taxidermy, that the casting
of dolls, rocks, sticks or what have
you, is well in line with modern
scientific Taxidermy. Later in the
studies and for advancement to
meet the modern means of Taxider-
my it is absolutely necessary to cast
and mold. Most of the wild life ami
NAL structure to bring about tro-
phies and specimens that are eX-
tremely light in weight, very SAM
: tary and practically ever lasting, as
well as to possess the correct and
life-like stature of the highly praised
} trophies and mountings as in its
I natural wild state. The major OBJ
: jective in using the doll was to
: bring about exact impressions OF
, any specimen regardless of what it
may be, and to learn the material
; used, and its chemical actions,
strength, general resistance, etc. In
demonstrating this feat well per-
fected 2l-inch high beautiful doll
was completed, and possessed a real
commercial value Immediately.
THE contents of the class work
for February will embrace the
lmountaing complete of a Black
bears head, two deer heads, fur rug
. making, and the much needed prac-
tice in Alaska especially, of deodor-
izing of all fur pelts, especially Of
the hair seal goods and moccasins. "
. The sale of Native and homemade
/ nnoccasins to tourists and otherwise
has been greatly impaired in the
past due to the undesirable odor the
| goods possess. which was certainly
a shame to allow, according to in
structor Dupree, master taXider-
mist and furrier. The handicraft
and quality of all the goods is well
in accord and the tourists and other
l purchasers of these articles this
summer may be assured of odorlesS
and fine, desirable moccasins, and
especially so if purchased from or
through the students of the Doug
las Government School.
Within the art Of Taxidermy and
its relations concern probably the
most professions of any one art, a
few majors here are mentioned, as
besides the mounting of trophies of
every living animal, bird, fish and
insects, etc. A. the average person
thinks of only, Taxidermy art covers
the above with preserving of animal
tissue for an unlimited time, sculp-
turing, proper skinning, chemistry,
physical culture of all wild life, cast
ing and modelling of animal struc-
ture, the finest of furcraft, wood
craft, the knowledge of tensile
strength of natural fibers, climatic
conditions and its effects, effect of
sunlight, certain phases of dentistry.
optometry, biology, Zoology, etc, all
the arts and professions here men
toned besides many others, are ma
jor arts concerning and are invested
in the make up of the wonderful
art of the modern scientific taxi
denny in each phase of taxidermy
the learning and teaching is unlim
tied to the degree of purely science.
as Of course the same in most arts
and professions.
Commercially however little by lit
tie great progress is being made
each year for the. betterment of the
arts, according to instructor Mr..
Dupree who is graduate in the art