Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

PELTS, BUCKSKIN, RAWHIDE 30701 benzine (away from a fire, of course) ; thenwring out, and hang up in a current of air to dry,before stretching.A "cased" skin is dried by slipping it over a thinboard of proper shape and size so it is stretchedtight like a drumhead. Stretchers are of various patterns.For muskrat the stretcher need be no morethan a box board about 20 inches long, 5 or 6 incheswide at the base, and 4 or 5 inches at the shoulder,from which it is rounded off to the upperend. Dimensions depend, of course, onthe size of the skin. The sides are chamferedso as to be thin along the edges,which are rounded.To get the approximate size and shapefor a stretcher, lay the animal on itsback, on a board, and mark around itnear the end of the fur. A fox skin willrequire a ^-inch board; otter, ^-inch,and long enough so its tail can be spreadout flat and tacked at full length. Slipthe skin over the stretcher, fur side in,back on one side and belly on the other,and tack at the hind feet, or fasten tonotches cut in edge of board. Thenpush in on each side a thin, narrow strip,or a stick to stretch the skin outwardand let air get in. A few tacks at thebase will complete the stretching. Thenhang in some cool, dry, airy place untilFig. 184. Another form of stretcher is shown instretch^'^^' ^^^' ^^^ board is shaped as above,(a, b, then a tapered piece is ripped from thewedge) center (ab) , which, after the skinhas been slipped on, is pushed forward like a wedgeto stretch taut.Bird Skins.—A sportsman may wish to save theskin of a particularly fine bird for mounting, andthis can be done, in cool weather, without any