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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Capelin

Capelin \Cape"lin\, n. [Cf. F. capelan, caplan.] (Zo["o]l.) Either of two small marine fishes formerly classified in the family Salmonid[ae], now within the smelt family Osmeridae: Mallotus villosus, very abundant on the coasts of Greenland, Iceland, Newfoundland, and Alaska; or Mallotus catervarius, found in the North Pacific. The Atlantic variety has been used as a bait for the cod. [Written also capelan and caplin.]

Note: This fish, which is like a smelt, is called by the Spaniards anchova, and by the Portuguese capelina. However the anchovy used as a food is a different fish.
--Fisheries of U. S. (1884). [1913 Webster + PJC] ||

Wiktionary
capelin

n. (taxlink Mallotus villosus species noshow=1), a type of smelt found in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

WordNet
capelin

n. very small northern fish; forage for sea birds and marine mammals and other fishes [syn: capelan, caplin]

Wikipedia
Capelin

The capelin or caplin, Mallotus villosus, is a small forage fish of the smelt family found in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. In summer, it grazes on dense swarms of plankton at the edge of the ice shelf. Larger capelin also eat a great deal of krill and other crustaceans. Whales, seals, cod, squid, mackerel, beluga whales and seabirds all prey on capelin, in particular during the spawning season of the capelin while it migrates southwards. Capelin spawn on sandy beaches and sandy bottom at the age of 2–6 years, and have an extremely high mortality rate on the beaches after spawning, for males close to 100% mortality. Males reach 20 cm in length, while females are up to 25 cm long. They are olive-colored dorsally, shading to silver on sides. Males have a translucent ridge on both sides of their bodies. The ventral aspects of the males iridesce reddish at the time of spawn.

Usage examples of "capelin".

I knew nothing, other than that when they first left Buckkeep, they had settled near a town called Capelin Beach.

I spiraled out from Capelin Beach, visiting inns and taverns in nearby villages.

They shine before his mind like a great school of capelin, confounding the eye with its multitude.

I know only that their cottage is near a village called Capelin Beach.

Will not you Skill a warning to Burrich and Molly, that they may flee Capelin Beach before they are found?

Whales could not be introduced until, in the case of the baleen whales, the krill population had reached productive levels, until small fish such as herring, sardines, and capelin were plentiful.

One of the executives of an international fisheries corporation happily told me he expects the capelin supply will "hold up for as long as five or ten years.

The seiners will go after the capelin: a slim, beautiful little fish which is found only in northern waters but which may be as numerous at present as the herring were in the days be- fore the purse seine fishery began.

The seiners will go after the capelin: a slim, beautiful little fish which is found only in northern waters but which may be as numerous at present as the herring were in the days be fore the purse seine fishery began.