FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 243 



to the same appearance even on extent of 556 nautical miles. A similar 

 plant was noticed by Darwin, in his voyage around the world, covering the 

 water near Abrolhos Island, off the coast of Brazil. Oersted, in 1845, ^<^" 

 ticed that the water near Maderia had a peculiar obscurity, which was occa- 

 sioned by numerous minute tufts of oscillatoria waving in the mass. These 

 plants are found all the way to the West Indies, sometimes thick enough to 

 give a color to the water, but never wholly wanting. In other cases the sea 

 is colored red by animals, of different kinds, by minute crustaceans or infu- 

 soriae, or eggs. The name red or vermilion sea has been given to two dif- 

 ferent microscopic infusoriae. One of the coloring animals is irritating to 

 the skin, and produces blisters and sores on the bodies of those who come 

 in contact with it. 



UBSTiTUTE FOR CoD LivER OiL. — It is claimed by a 

 writer in "Nature" that the oil of the "oolachen" or 

 "ulikou," the candlefish of Alaska, possesses all the 

 medicinal qualities of cod liver oil. This fish has long 

 been an ichthyological curiosity, and has been noticed 

 by almost every traveler who has visited the coasts of 

 British Columbia and Southern Alaska. It is a small 

 silvery fish, averaging about fourteen inches long, in 

 ^^^ general appearance much resembling a smelt. It is 



the fattest of all known fish, affording a very superior oil when tried out. 

 Dried, the fish serve as torches. When a light is needed the tail is touched 

 to the fire, and they will burn with a bright light for some time. No de- 

 scription can give an adequate idea of their numbers when ascending the 

 rivers from the sea. The water is literally alive with them and appears to 

 be boiling. These fisheries appear not to have been hitherto utilized except 

 by the natives, who esteem the ulikon as a great delicacy. The oil at pres- 

 ent is said to be gaining a high reputation in this country and has recently 

 been introduced into England, where it will probably take a prominent place 

 as an important medicine. 



Habits of Eels. — The habits of the eel are very different from those of 

 any other fish, and are as yet but little understood. " This, so far as we 

 know," writes Prof. Baird, " is the only fish the young of which ascend from 

 the sea to attain maturity, instead of descending from the fresh to the salt 

 water. Its natural history has been a matter of considerable inquiry within 

 a few years, although even now we are far from having that information 

 concerning it that would be desirable, in view of its enormous abundance 

 and its great value as a food fish. The eggs of the eel are for the most 

 part laid in the sea, and in early Spring, the period varying with the latitude, 

 the young fish may be seen ascending the river in vast numbers, and when 



