Fishing is one of the common hobbies. It provides a calm rest on the shore of the reservoir, excitement and indescribable impressions when playing fish, admiring trophies. You can preserve memories of the size of the prey with the help of photos and videos. At home, it is also possible to make a stuffed fish head. This process is lengthy, but the result will become a source of pride and interior decoration.
It is necessary
- - pike head;
- - a large enamel pan;
- - salt;
- - foam rubber;
- - furniture varnish;
- - wooden sticks - spacers;
- - brush;
- - fine sandpaper;
- - wooden stand.
Instructions
Step 1
Take a large pike. Remembering that cartilage dries out very much during drying, do not take initially small fish. Cut off the head from the body at a distance of 2 cm from the operculums. The fins should stay with the head.
Step 2
Take an enamel pot that will fit the entire pike head.
Step 3
Rub generously with salt. This should be done especially carefully where the fish flesh is left: a cut from the side of the body, gills, mouth.
Step 4
Place the salted pike head in a saucepan with a layer of salt on the bottom. Sprinkle it with salt on top. Cover the pot with a lid and place in a cool place to salty the scalp for 7-10 days.
Step 5
Remove the head from the pan. Rinse off mucus and excess salt from the scalp. To do this, rinse the fish under cold running water using a soft brush.
Step 6
Carefully, in several steps, open the mouth of the pike. Rinse it off with a brush.
Step 7
Carefully remove excess meat from the cut side. Remove the pike's eyes.
Step 8
Insert wooden spacers into the open mouth of the pike. Set your head to dry in a well-ventilated area.
Step 9
Rinse off any leaked salt thoroughly every day. With water using a piece of foam rubber, gently wipe the entire head from the outside and from the inside.
Step 10
Continue drying the head of the pike until no more salt comes out of it.
Step 11
Remove the spacers from your head 10-14 days from the start of drying.
Step 12
Continue drying your hair for as long as possible. All moisture should evaporate from it, while the weight of the head will be significantly reduced.
Step 13
After finishing drying, insert artificial eyes into the eye sockets. They can be made from eyes from old stuffed toys or green or yellow buttons. If using buttons, glue the pupils onto them using pieces of black paper.
Step 14
Cover the outside and inside of the dried pike head with furniture varnish. You need to do this 2-3 times. Apply each next layer of varnish after the previous one has completely dried.
Step 15
Attach the varnished head to the wooden stand with glue. Leave it upright until completely dry.
Step 16
Decorate the dressing room, cottage, one of the rooms of the apartment with a stuffed pike head, or use it as a gift.
