Smelt

Smelt (Osmerus), a genus of the Salmon family (Salmonidae), characterised by the strong fang-like teeth, especially on the tongue and on the tip of the vomer, and by the rather large scales, which readily fall off. The Common Smelt (O. eperlanus), called Spirling or Sparling in Scotland, and Eperlan in France, is a fish of 8 or 10 inches (rarely 12 inches) in length. The form is very trout-like, but rather more slender; the tail is larger in proportion, and more forked. The lower jaw is longer than the upper. The back is whitish, tinged with green; the upper part of the sides shows bluish tints, the lower part of the sides and the belly are of a bright silvery colour. The smelt has a peculiar, cucumber-like smell, and a delicious flavour, on account of which it is highly esteemed for the table. From the sea smelts often ascend estuaries and rivers, and they thrive well in lakes and ponds. The same is true of the common American species—O. mordax. A third species—O. thaleichthys—of smaller size occurs on the Pacific coasts of North America, and another—O. dentex—on the corresponding Asiatic coasts. The name smelt is sometimes extended to related genera—e.g. Argentina, Retropinna, and the Pacific surf-smelts (Hypomesus).