A Gem Tree is a tree made by twisting wire (usually brass or color coated copper) to form the shape of a tree. The wire tree forms range in size from only 3 inches high with about 6 branches to over 2 feet high with 50 to 60 branches. The trees are designed to look like a pine or an apple tree or even a wind swept Bonsai tree. When twisting the wire, to form the tree, each branch will have a varying amount of twisted loops to hold semi-precious stones or gar scales. The stones representing flowers, fruit, etc. While the gar scales are used as leaves and also flowers.

     Before the gar scales can be used as leaves, a considerable amount of work is required. First, the gar scales must be removed from the gar hide. We know of two very different methods. That result in the same final end.

     First, if you are in an area with a lot of ants and sun, you can use the cheap, slow method. You place the gar hide on an ant hill in the sun. The sun dries the hides while the ants pick apart the hide leaving only the scales. This method takes six to eight weeks to pick apart the hide and leave only the scales. The scales are then bleached, washed and ready to use.

     The second method, if you don’t have a lot of ants or sun, is much faster but much more dangerous. Great care must be exercised as this method causes noxious fumes and a VERY DANGEROUS solution. You mix one can of lye into four gallons of water in a steel container. The mixture is then heated to boiling. The gar hides are then carefully and slowly added to the boiling mixture. In a matter of only minutes, the liquid will destroy the gar hide but not the scales. After things cool a bit, the mixture is poured off (this mixture must be disposed of in accordance with your local toxic waste disposal instructions) and the gar scales are washed, bleached and dried.

     Next the gar scales are dyed. Usually they are dyed green, to look like tree leaves. But, around Christmas, they are also dyed red or other bright colors. There is no secret process in dying the gar scales. The same dye used to dye fabric will also dye the gar scales. The scales do have to soak in the dye solution for a longer period of time, but that is all. After being dried, they are finally ready to be used on your tree.

     The gar scales are glued onto the wire loops along with the semi-precious stones. A few scales are also glued onto the base, around the bottom of the tree, to look like fallen leaves.

     So, now you know a use for gar fish scales. They add beauty to a craft project and bring joy to many people who don’t even know what a gar looks like.

Gar Scales Needed!

     To create these Gem Trees, the artists at The Rock Haus need a reliable source of gar scales. Unfortunately, their previous supplier is no longer in the business, so they are currently looking for a new source. Those that are interested in quoting a price for gar scales should email Mr. Eberhardt at:                therockhaus@therockhaus.com

     Before you sell gar scales or any fish part, check your local laws. In some states it is illegal to sell any fish parts or whole fish taken by sport fishing license methods.