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'Eulachon', i.e., grease, derived from the Chinook language. This species was first taken commercially in 1877 in the Nass River for its oil for export, but most of it was sold to local Indians insteads. Preparation of salted and smoked eulachon developed later in the Nass River, reaching its peak in 1903 and by 1912 it was fifth in market value. Since then, it has declined steadily to minor importance. Most of the catch today goes to fur farms. The eulachon fishery was goverend by ritual, traditional ownership of good sites, rivalry and an extensive trade network to the interior of British Columbia, Canada. The name of the Nass River (Tlingit language) meant food depot. The oil or 'grease' (kleena) from the eulachon was held in high regard as a food item for cooking and as a curative. The fish were left in piles for several days, then heated in water, and the oil skimmed off the surface. The pulp was later pressed to get the remaining oil. Around 1881, 5000 members of the Tsimshian tribe alone moved annually to fishing locations on the coast. Between 1935 and 1940, crude statitistics indicated that the Indian fishery exceeded the commercial catch by as much as 7000 cwt. The native fishery rituals were dedicated to pacify the eulachon so they would come back again, and for drying, smoking and oil preparation (Ref. 1998). |