Smelt

smelt the name for several species of fish in the family Osmeridae (and the less important family Retrospinnidae in the southern hemisphere). Osmerus eperlanus, which has a maximum length of 35 cm (14"), is found from the far north of the N. Atlantic (plus the Baltic Sea and many lakes in N. Europe) down to the Bay of Biscay (including the lower reaches of some rivers, such as the Seine in France and the Tay in Scotland). It has a silvery stripe along its sides, like the silverside, and has a modest reputation as a food fish in some parts of its range.