THE EULACHO:s T . 547 



THE EULACHON THALEICHTHYS PACIFICUS (Richardson) Girard. 



This species, common in the North Pacific, resembles the Capelin, and is usually known by the 

 Indian name "Eulachon," or "Oulachan," more commonly pronounced " hoolakins" by the English 

 at Victoria. Those salted and sent south are commonly called "Candle-fish" by the trade. In the 

 Columbia River and elsewhere southward it is known as "Smelt," being confounded with the other 

 species. It reaches a length of less than a foot. It ranges from Oregon northward to Kamtchatka. 

 It occurs in some abundance in the Columbia River, where little notice is taken of it. In Frazer 

 River and streams to the northward it runs in enormous numbers in spring. The Eulachon rim 

 up the rivers and deposit their spawn on gravel beds at no great distance from the month of the 

 stream, probably not above thirty miles. Their run is from the last of March to the middle of May, 

 probably varying in different streams. During the run they are beset by all sorts of enemies 

 halibut, sharks, sea-birds, Indians, porpoises, and all manner of predatory fish, some of which 

 chase them in the ocean only; others pursue them up the rivers. Even the sturgeons and the rays 

 have their stomachs full of them. 



The Eulachon is greatly valued on account of the oil which permeates its flesh. As a pan- 

 fish it has no superior. A factory has been established on the Noss River for the manufacture 

 of eulachon oil, which is intended to be used as a substitute for cod-liver oil. It has the drawback 

 of becoming solid and lard-like at ordinary temperatures. 



"Nature," the chief London journal of science, stated, May 12, 1881: "A new medicinal 

 oil has just been introduced into this country by Messrs. Burgoyne & Burbridge, the well-known 

 chemists of Coleman street. It is known as Oolachiau oil, and is said to be scarcely distinguishable 

 from cod-liver oil. It is obtained from a fish called by the North American Indians 'Oolachan/ 

 or 'Candle-fish,' from the fact that when dried the fish itself can be used as a candle, on account 

 of the large quantity of oleaginous matter it' contains. ... In America the oil has already a. 

 great reputation as a valuable and efficient substitute for cod-liver oil, and there is every prob- 

 ability, as it becomes known in th : s country, of its taking a prominent place as ^ui important 

 medicine." Diligent inquiry fails to bring to light evidences of any extensive use of this oil as 

 yet in the United States. 



171. FAMILIES BELATED TO THE SALMONID.E. 

 THE SCOPELUS FAMILY SCOPELID^;. 



The species of this family are small and pelagic, and are found throughout all the temperate 

 and tropical seas. They are so numerous that the surface net, when used in a night of moderate 

 weather, in mid ocean, scarcely ever fails to inclose some specimens. They come to the surface at 

 night only; during the day, in very rough weather, they descend to depths where they are safe 

 from sunlight and from the agitation of the water. 1 



In the Western Atlantic there are five or six species, which are catalogued in the check-list. 

 In California there is only one, Myctophum crenulare, a single specimen of which was taken from 

 the stomach of an albicore at Santa Barbara. 



THE HANDSAW FISH FAMILY ALEPIDOSAURID^E. 



The fishes of this family inhabit very deep water, and are never seen at the surface. The 

 Handsaw Fish of the Pacific, Alepidosnunix horealis, is occasionally found along the coast from. 



: Study of Fishes, p. 585. 



