Hear ya bob! some fish skins are pretty cool! and one doesn't tan them! they are glued on like rawhide, cleaned/fleshed, stretched and dried.
Moistened pre application, and glued on moist. I have done a few bows with halibut and ling cod skin... I really like them. And seen a few on here with carp skin, very cool , camo , honey comb type look.