The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Blackfish

BLACKFISH, any one of a variety of dark-colored fishes, both of America and Europe. For the American &ldquo;blackfish,&rdquo; see , and . The English &ldquo;blackfish&rdquo; is a kind of mackerel (Centrolophus niger), about two feet long. It occurs rather abundantly off the south coast of Europe, and is much esteemed as a food fish.

The name is also given to a small &ldquo;killer&rdquo; whale of the genus Globicephalus, which goes about in shoals that often enter harbors. They are sought by fishermen for the sake of a small amount of oil, resembling sperm-oil, to be obtained from their fat, and also for the sake of their beef-like flesh. The common blackfish of the Atlantic is G. brachypterus, and that of the north Pacific G. scammoni, Sailors give the name &ldquo;blackfish&rdquo; to the &ldquo;caaing,&rdquo; or &ldquo;pilot&rdquo; whale, and to the various other small cetaceans. Consult Bullen, &lsquo;Cruise of the Cachalot&rsquo;; Scammon, &lsquo;Marine Mammals of North America.&rsquo;