BLEAK

bleak, or blick (_alburnus lucidus_), a small fish of the cyprinid family, allied to the bream and the minnow, but with a more elongate body, resembling a sardine. it is found in european streams, and is caught by anglers, being also a favourite in aquariums. the well-known and important industry of "essence orientale" and artificial pearls, carried on in france and germany with the crystalline silvery colouring matter of the bleak, was introduced from china about the middle of the 17th century.