# Dead fish as a light source **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 29, 2021, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-fish-as-a-light-source/951563 "2021-09-29T03:27:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-fish-as-a-light-source/951563/1 "2021-09-29T03:27:14Z")
I learned in [another thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4755) recently that rotting fish give off a glow, and were at one time used as a [safe light source in coal mines](http://nevertoocurious.com/2014/08/28/bioluminescence/). What are the logistics of this? Questions I’d like to know include : How much light does a rotting fish give off? How many fish were required to light a dig? How long would the light last, before the fish needed replacement? Just how bad was the smell? I’m guessing the fish were put in clear glass jars, to shed their glow in all directions, rather than kept in buckets, is this correct? Anyone know this stuff? --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-fish-as-a-light-source/951563)._