‖ oolakan, -chan
(ˈuːləkən)
Also ou-; olachen, oolaghan, oolichan, ulichan; and eulachon.
[f. Chinook ûlakân. Var. eulachon.]
The candle-fish (Thaleichthys pacificus) of north-western America (see candle n. 7). Also attrib., as oolakan oil; oolakan rake, an implement used for raking these fish into the boat when in shoals.
| 1834 W. F. Tolmie Jrnl. 16 Apr. (1963) 275 The canoes were laden with..dried herring spawn which they are to barter for Oolaghans. 1836 Sir J. Richardson Fauna Boreali-Amer. III. 226 The Indian name of this fish is Oulachan... The oulachan spawns in the different small streams which fall into the lower part of the Columbia. 1849 A. Ross Adventures First Settlers Oregon River vi. 97 There is a small fish resembling the smelt or herring, known by the name of ulichan, which enters the river in immense shoals, in the spring of the year. 1881 Nature XXIV. 39/2 A new medicinal oil..known as Oolachan Oil..Obtained from a fish called by the North American Indians Oolachan, or candle fish..from the fact that when dried the fish..can be used as..a candle. 1911 J. G. Frazer Golden Bough: Magic Art (ed. 3) I. v. 262 The Tsimshian Indians of British Columbia believe that twins..can..call the salmon and the olachen or candle-fish. 1926 B. A. McKelvie Huldowget 2 They came today for the oolichan fishing. 1953 Beaver Mar. 40/2 Oolikan, olachan, eulachon, uthlecan, hollikan and hoolican—spell it as you wish. Ibid. 43/1 Exchange value of a large box of olachen grease equalled one caribou skin..or $1.50 in cash, a century ago. 1965 Fisherman (Vancouver) 19 Mar. 2/5 Robichaud said commercial exploitation of eulachons was banned by regulation. 1972 Evening Telegram (St. Johns, Newfoundland) 15 July 34/4 Fried and steamed clams, oysters, halibut and oolichans. 1975 H. White Raincoast Chron. (1976) 176/2 There were oolachen oil street lamps on cross beams in front of each house. |