A Bite of Taishan (3): Largescale Shoveljaw Fish of Mount Tai

Onychostoma macrolepis is commonly known as largescale shoveljaw fish.

Living in mountain creeks of Mount Tai, largescale shoveljaw fish of Mount Tai is a kind of precious freshwater fish feeding on Taishan spring water.

When ancient emperors prayed for the country's prosperity and peace by offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth on Mount Tai, largescale shoveljaw fish of Mount Tai is a necessity for the food of the imperial household. It requires high standard living environment, for it can only live in mountain stream and pools in the regions between 270m and 800m above sea level, feeding on Taishan spring water, without which it can hardly sustain.

The adult fish has a length of less than 20 centimeters, weighing up to 100 grams. Its body color may change with the environment, turning light or dark. Fresh and delicious, it is one of Five Famous Fish of China, which also has certain medicinal function.

It is difficult to get an adult fish, 20cm long, which takes about 15-20 years to grow up. With less fishbone, largescale shoveljaw fish of Mount Tai tastes fresh and tender.

It is said that when the fish is exposed to the sun on the stone in summer, its oil can be decomposed, and only the scales and the skeleton are left. It contains more than 18 kinds of amino acids and 12 minerals such as potassium, zinc, magnesium, calcium, copper and so on.

There is a legend about the largescale shoveljaw fish of Mount Tai.

In ancient times, there was an old fisherman living at the foot of Mount Tai. One day his fish was withheld by the evil magistrate, who ordered him to send more again after eating the tasty fish. Never did the fisherman expect that he had caught the king of largescale shoveljaw fish, who gave him a pearl in return for setting him free. When the truth was found out by the evil official, the fisherman, having no choice, had to come to the side of the pool with the evil official. All of a sudden, the king of fish drew the officila into the bottom of the pool furiously. Later the fisherman often came here to feed the fish in the pool with gratitude.

To this day, largescale shoveljaw fish of Mount Tai becomes famous all over the world.

舌尖上的泰山（三）：泰山赤鳞鱼

赤鳞鱼为多鳞白甲鱼一个俗称名。多鳞白甲鱼（Onychostoma macrolepis）俗称多磷铲颌鱼。原名多鳞颜颌鱼，属鲤形目，鲤科，鲃亚科，白甲鱼属。俗称：钱鱼、梢白甲、赤鳞鱼。英文名：Largescale shoveljaw fish 。

泰山赤鳞鱼产于泰山山涧溪流中，是泰山泉水哺育的珍贵山区淡水鱼。古代帝王来泰山封禅，泰山赤鳞鱼为御膳中的必备之选。泰山赤鳞鱼是一种珍贵的野生鱼类，肉质鲜美，但产量不高，对生活环境要求非常苛刻，主要生活在泰山270米到800米之间溪涧深潭中，离开泰山水很难成活，自古就有“赤鳞鱼不下山”的说法。

成鱼长不足20厘米，重不过百克。体色随环境而变，或深或浅，肉质细嫩，其味鲜美而不腥，为名贵肴馔，还可药用。它与云南洱海的油鱼、弓鱼、青海湖的湟鱼、富春江的鲥鱼并列为国内“五大名鱼”。

20cm左右的成鱼大约要15-20年的成长时间，很难得到。

赤鳞鱼刺儿少，味道象豆腐鱼，肉质非常细嫩！特别鲜。

据传，夏日置鱼于石上曝晒，鱼肉可化油而流，只剩鳞片和骨架。其含有钾、锌、镁、钙、铜等12种以上矿物质；含有18种以上氨基酸。

关于泰山赤鳞鱼，还有一个传说。

古时泰山有一卖鱼刘翁，一日他的鱼被恶知县扣下。因为鱼味美，恶官遂命他再送来。孰料他却钓上了赤鳞鱼王！鱼王为感谢其放生，给了他一枚宝珠。然却被恶官发现，于是他无奈带着恶官来到了潭边，鱼王怒将恶官卷入了潭底。后刘翁为感念时常喂养谭中的鱼。

直至今日，泰山赤鳞鱼闻名天下。