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oolichan
[< Chinook Jargon ûlakân]
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Spelling variants:eulachon
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
n.
a small fish, Thaleicthys pacificus, of the smelt family, native to the Pacific coast.
The spelling variants recorded for this word are numerous; see 1953 quote for samples.
Quotations
1811
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.
1834
The canoes were laden with . . . dried herring spawn which they are to barter for Oolaghans.
1869
We are told that the Indians, when prostrated by disease sometimes in the worst stages of debility, go up to their sanitorium at the mouth of the Naas River, where they continue to live on oolachans until they are perfectly cured.
1926
They came today for the oolichan fishing.
1953
Oolikan, olachan, eulachon, uthlecan, hollikan and hoolican--spell it as you wish. . . .
1965
Robichaud said commercial exploitation of eulachons was banned by regulation.