Smelt

THERE ARE TWO FORMS OF SMELT: LAKE AND OCEAN. OCEAN SMELT ARE ANADROMOUS, LIKE WILD SALMON. MEANING THEY TRAVEL FROM SALTWATER TO FRESHWATER TO SPAWN. HOWEVER, LAKE SMELT CAN BE FOUND LAND LOCKED IN THE GREAT LAKES AND PART OF CANADA. TYPICALLY SMELT ARE 6 INCHES LONG AND HAVE LEAN, WHITE FLESH. HEADLESS AND GUTTED FISH CAN BE EATEN WHOLE DUE TO THE EXTREMELY SOFT BONES. SMELT LOSE THEIR FLAVOR AS THEY AGE AND ARE BEST IF EATEN SOON AFTER BEING CAUGHT. FRESH SMELT GIVE OFF A CUCUMBER SCENT. THEY HAVE A HIGH OIL CONTENT AND WERE USED BY NATIVE AMERICANS AS CANDLES, ONCE THEY WERE DRIED OUT AND A WICK ADDED.