also: からふとししゃも
capelin; caplin
A small forage fish (Mallotus villosus) found in the North Pacific and Arctic oceans. In Japanese, often refers to the fish as food, especially the pregnant female carrying roe.
In Hokkaido, dried capelin is commonly eaten.
Capelin is a different fish from true shishamo.
True shishamo (Spirinchus lanceolatus) is a different species native to Hokkaido. 樺太シシャモ (capelin) is often sold as a substitute.
Standard mixed kanji-katakana spelling.
Ateji spelling; rarely used. The reading からふとししゃも is restricted to this form.
From 樺太 (Karafuto, 'Sakhalin') + シシャモ (shishamo, a similar fish). The kanji 柳葉魚 is ateji for シシャモ.