Smelt

A member of the family Osmeridae, silvery, small true smelt is both freshwater and anadromous (spends part of its life in saltwater). Often abundant, smelt is harvested commercially both for human food and for fertilizer. Smelt also is used by sport fishermen as bait for larger fish. Mostly carnivorous, smelt feeds on zooplankton, other small fish, and invertebrates. Schooling smelt can be harvested thousands at a time in nets. Smelt is a popular ice-fishing catch—shacks are erected close to the freshwater or brackish end of estuaries and rivers. Their small size and somewhat oily flesh make smelt ideal for frying. The heads and sometimes the tails are removed, and the fish are dipped in batter, fried quickly, and eaten whole.