Also ulikon, eulachon, ulken; and OOLAKAN, -CHAN, etc. [Native name in British Columbia.] A small fish of the northwestern parts of North America, ascending the rivers in immense numbers to spawn; the candlefish.
1807. P. Gass, Jrnl., 187. In the afternoon some of the natives came to visit us, and brought some of the small fish, which they call Ulken…. At noon our fishermen returned with some ulken and sturgeon.
1880. Libr. Univ. Knowl. (N.Y.), I. 205. All the early navigators and explorers … have spoken of the immense numbers of salmon, cod, halibut, mullet, ulicon, etc.
1885. Simmonds, Animal Food Resources, ix. 318. The ulikon or oulachan (Thaleichthys pacificus, Gerard) … has long been an ichthyological curiosity…. It is a small silvery fish, averaging about fourteen inches long, and in general appearance much resembling a smelt.
