Finless eel

Finless eel

　　The finless eel has a smooth, scaleless body, tender and thick flesh, and few bones. This fish lives year-round in fish lairs over ten meters deep in the rugged, verdant, and serene Minjiang River Gorge. Its scientific name is Leiocassis longirostris, characterized by a fleshy snout at the front and a mouth located beneath the head, with no hard spines. It avoids light, prefers deep rock crevices, and feeds on aquatic insects, small miscellaneous fish, and plankton. The flesh is tender, flavorful, rich yet not greasy, making it a delicacy fit for banquets. There is a saying: “A precious fish sent from afar, a royal banquet’s treasured fare.” It is a rare and precious species of fish.

　　Su Shi once praised the finless eel in a poem: “Sprouts of ginger and purple vinegar grill the silver fish, held aloft in a snow-white bowl, over two feet long; still carrying the spring essence of peach blossoms, its flavor surpasses that of perch.”