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The Collaborative International Dictionary
oilfish

oilfish \oilfish\ n. A very large deep-water snake mackerel ( Ruvettus pretiosus).

Wiktionary
oilfish

n. A snake mackerel, (taxlink Ruvettus pretiosus species noshow=1), having a high content of wax esters instead of glyceride oils

WordNet
oilfish

n. very large deep-water snake mackerel [syn: Ruvettus pretiosus]

Wikipedia
Oilfish

The oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus, is a species of snake mackerel with a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical and temperate oceans. It can be found at depths of from , usually between . It can grow to a length of TL though most do not exceed SL. The maximum recorded weight is . It is currently the only known member of its genus.

The flesh is very oily and although edible, the oil actually consists of wax esters, which are not digested like edible oils. The flesh has an oil content of around 25%, and with serving sizes of several ounces and upwards commonplace, some people experience a laxative side effect from such a large amount of wax esters.

Oilfish is pleasantly rich in taste and can be substantially cheaper than some other fish species, leading to some fish sellers intentionally mislabelling it as butterfish or even codfish, despite the utter lack of relation. This leads the consumer to often eat large servings, as they assume it is a fish with which they are familiar, and then some may experience a laxative effect. Because of this, Japan and Italy have imposed an import ban on oilfish. Australia does not ban oilfish from being sold but recommends retailers and caterers to inform consumers about the potential risk associated with oilfish consumption. The US FDA has warned consumers about potential mislabeling of oilfish, but has concluded any laxative side effects that occur are uncomfortable at worst and pose no health risk. Escolar, a relative of oilfish, also has high concentrations of wax esters and is mislabeled similarly. See also: Escolar Mislabeling.

Usage examples of "oilfish".

He had been four days on the fishing-grounds, and only last night had he got hold of the fact that the reason for his inability to locate any schools of oilfish lay in an equipment fault, not in a total absence of fish.

There was one other way of tracking oilfish besides using electronic aids, and that was to follow a wolfshark as the buzzards did, until its eagerness for prey led it to a school.

What fragile independence Mayeners have is maintained through their one major asset, the secret oilfish shoals.

The lamp oil produced from the oilfish here rivals that from the olive groves of Tear, Illian, and Tarabon.

Tairen knows where the oilfish shoals are located, and the Mayeners are determined to keep it that way.

Sea of Storms that derives its wealth and its independence from knowledge of where to find the oilfish shoals, which rival in economic importance the olive groves of Tear, Illian, and Tarabon.

They underprice the oil from our good Tairen olives just because their ships know how to find the oilfish shoals.

He dreamed of the sea because then he could see lands he had only heard of, because then he could find the Mayener oilfish shoals, could out-trade the Sea Folk and the filthy Illianers.

Three hundred years ago the High Lords were planning to build a fleet to follow Mayener ships and find the oilfish shoals.

On that side of the table a long wall hanging showed ships at sea, and men hauling nets filled with oilfish, the source of Mayene's wealth.