Clark’s Drawing of the Eulachon (Candlefish)

This is perhaps the most celebrated sketch from the expedition journals. Clark drew the eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus), also known as the candlefish, at Fort Clatsop in February 1806. The fish was so oily that Native peoples dried them and used them as candles. Clark’s drawing shows surprising detail and anatomical accuracy, and represents one of the earliest scientific illustrations of this Pacific Northwest species.