Rainbow smelt

From Great Lakes Wiki

Rainbow smelt

Scientific: Osmerus mordax

Also known as: leefish, frost fish, freshwater smelt, smelt, American smelt

Lives in these Great Lakes: All of them

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Picture and information reference from: http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfish/framefish.html (Click on Rainbow smelt)

The length range is 7 to 9 inches. The weight range is 3 ounces. This small fish was introduced to the great lakes at then turn of the 20th Century. They put these fish into the water as food for the salmon that lived there. The species grew rapidly and spread to other lakes. These small fish are carnivores. They prefer colder water and hate light. This is why they stay in the depths of the lake. They are often used to feed animals. People like to eat them too. Even the Japanese like to buy them to eat. The future of these fish is unclear as their rates are rapidly dropping. The fish (true to their name) glimmer like a rainbow in the water. After they are caught, however, they become dull and pale. Apparently they smell like cucumbers that have been recently cut. They stay in schools both in the middle of the lake and along the coast.

--Maurerd 17:53, 28 Nov 2006 (EST)