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Butterfish range from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. This fish travels in
loose schools and may be found throughout the water column. The butterfish
is known to feed on small finfish, squid, and crustaceans. The butterfish is shiny with a bluish black and silvery sides and belly. The fish is so named because it has a high fat content and a slippery coating that resembles butter (Rodger 1991). Its body is oval-shaped, very thin, and deep with scales that are small and easily rubbed off. Butterfish are small fish; adults range from 6-10 inches long and 1/8-1 pound. The larger sizes command a high price. CULINARY DESCRIPTION Butterfish have an excellent flavor. Due to the high-fat content, the meat is dark, but turns white upon cooking. Typically, butterfish are pan-dressed and smoked or prepared using recipes designed for mackeral. |
