Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-29
USING A FISH AS A CANDLE.
NafUrafist's Experience I'm British
COitlmbia-gsesO of the CandIe.Fish

From the New York Tribune
Turn out the gas" said a naturalist, 'and
will show the latest thing in light: that is" he
added, 1.-THE latest thing In that line in British
Columbia"
As the gas went out the speaker unrOlled sew
eral objects that had an ancient and fsh-like
SMELL" and striking match touched one.
moment later clear. yellow light appeared. is
suing from what looked like the mouth of fish
the caudal end of which was thrust into large
bronze candlestick.
Yes" SAID the naturalist, sit is fish, and
nothing else. no tube nor Oil within, only the
fish just as it came from the water. Take this
paper and read a line and become one of the
very few who can boast that they have read by
the light OF dead herring
The light was found equal to that of a candle,
and reading by fish light was an easy matter.
at is curious" resumed the student Of
nature, "but have got so that if should see
man use himself as a candle | shouldn't be much
surprised. The use of a fish as candle first
observed when on the north shore of British
Columbia made trip all through the country
for the purpose of obtaining a skeleton of the
rare rhytina. that was killed off about hundred
years ago. and ran across some other curious
things we'll worth knowing. had lived in an
indian village nearly week before heard any
thing about the candle-f1sh, and one beautiful
moonlight night was standing On the beach
when | saw something that appeared exactly
like the reflection OF the moon only it was in
the wrong direction. called the attention of q
native to it and it seemed to throw him into the
greatest excitement. He cried out 'Eulochon
as nard as he could, and in few minutes fifteen
men were on. the shore launching their canoes
There was much confusion. that / couldn't
learn what was the matter; so l jumped into
one of the boats and of we went. There were
two men In each of'the canoes but ours One
sat In the stern and padded. while the other
stood in the bow with a curious-looking instru-
ment In his hand that | had not seen before 1t
looked like an enormous rake or comb, made of
piece Of pine at least eight feet long with
mole for hand grip at tie top. the lower part
thinning off to an edge into which were driven
sharp iron or bone teeth from three to four
inches apart. The use was soon evident; it was
an arrangement for fishing. The ripple had
noticed on the water was an enormous school
Of fish, called by the natives 'EuachCn,' and to
surround them now seemed to be the chief
object.
1.-THE canoes were swiftly padded out-until
they were all upon the outside Of the ashland
then they rushed at them full speed each man
welding his comb like scoop; dashing it into
the sparkling mass OF fish that cleaned like
silver, and at every stroke.so thick were they
that the teeth OF the comb came up covered
with impaled fishes These were quickly ierked
into the boats and another dash made. and so
on, until finally the school was driven in shore
and the excited natives leaped into the water
and fairly scooped them into their canoes, where
their vivid phosphorescence made them look
like molten silver. The fish seemed so terrified
and demoralized that they Rugged the shore,
and If the men had had net instead of those
outlandish combs, they could have captured
millions where they only took thousands. The
boats were rapidly filled, however, and in an
hour the excitement was over. and the canoes
were hauled up on the beach by the exhausted
fishermen. The next morning early the boats
were emptied on the beach, and the catch was
handed over to the squaws, who took the entire
matter of curing in hand. They seated them
selves about their respective piles, and taking
sticks pointed at the ends, rapidly strung the
fish upon them by piercing them through the
eyes. Then they were taken by children and
placed In the smoke at the top Of their sheds.
oughly dried the fish have flavor OF wood
smoke. They are p cked in large fails made
of cedar bark and ruahes OF various
kinds. They are then slowed away on a
scaffoldng made Of high poles, and are not
touched until cold weather. The natives call
them In our tongue candle fish, as they not
only eat them but use them to burn, as have
shown you. Previous to this catch had had
no light. but afterward luxuriated In candle
every night, and'wrote my reports and took my
notes all by the light Of the 'Eulachon. The
little fish seem fairly bubbling over with OIL SO
much 30 that / tried to fry one and turning
away for q few moments returned to find the
back and other bones jumping around In lot
Of fat; the flesh had melted. The oil Is used as
medicine; it keeps them warm as fuel, gives
them light and the flesh is rich TODD In its
dried state. When the fish are eaten the bones
are swallowed. When they burn them they
take pointed stick, insert 1t In the ground and
make slit in the other end, into which they
stick the fish and light 1t. There Is no trim
ming or smoking, and when the light is no
longer needed 1t Is blown out and the remainder
OF the fish eaten. Sometimes the fish are very
abundant, and the surplus Is all made into oil
that is used for variety Of purposes by the
natives. What do they stow it in? Well. nature
again comes to the rescue. and they go to the
ocean for their bottles as well as their oil. One
of the great seaweeds that grows Of the coast
has hollow stalk that is about as large as
champagne bottle; these are cut In lengths
holding three pints or more. and filled with oil.
The candle fish Is allied to the smelt, and is
known scientifically as the Mallotus Pacifcus,
and In former days was found in the vicinity OF
British Columbia In vast numbers. The mouth
Of the Columbia river is said to have been
famous place for them, but the great factories
and the steamers have gradually driven them
of, SO that there are only q few places, compar-
atiVolV speaking. where great Numbers can bn