Beast

Allec


Latin name: Allec
Other names: Allec pisaculus, Allech, Allecia, Allecibus, Alleciis, Allecus, Hallec, Herring
Category: Fish

A fish used to make pickled fish sauce

General Attributes

The allec is found in some medieval encyclopedias.It is a very small fish, but when it is freshly caught, it makes the most delicious food. When salted it can last longer than other fish used by humans. It eyes shine at night, and it can be lured into nets by light.

Uses Magical, Medical, Alchemical and Culinary

The allec was used by the Romans to make a pickled fish sauce (salsamentum).

Reality

Allec, hallec, garum and liquamen were the names of a Roman fish sauce. "Pliny stated that garum was made from fish intestines, with salt, creating a liquor, the garum, and the fish paste named (h)allec or allex; this paste was a byproduct of fish sauce production. A concentrated garum evaporated down to a thick paste with salt crystals was called muria; it would have been used to salt and flavor foods. Garum was produced in various grades consumed by all social classes. After the liquid was ladled off of the top of the mixture, the remains of the fish, called allec, was used by the poorest classes to flavour their staple porridge." - [Wikipedia]

Allec is probably a species of herring or similar fish.