# Hagfish Bonanza! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2017, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236 "2017-07-14T11:38:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/1 "2017-07-14T11:38:45Z")
> **[Thousands Of Slime Eels Spill Onto Oregon Highway In Gross, Gooey Crash](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oregon-slime-eels-truck-crash_n_596845e1e4b03389bb164e65?kb7v=&ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009)** > > Although no humans sustained major injuries in the crash, there were a high number of hagfish casualties. A truck carrying 7,500 pounds of live hagfish spilled its contents on a road in Oregon, covering the road and several cars. The hagfish (which looks like an eel, but isn’t) has one of those disgusting lamprey-like jawless mouths, but compounds its disgustingness by producing unbelievable amounts of slime, prompting some people to call it a “snotfish” [![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XFdNLInhIKI/UU-hhcIUUGI/AAAAAAAABNE/xgxy5Zu23BA/s1600/hagfish2--rgov-800width.jpg) ](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XFdNLInhIKI/UU-hhcIUUGI/AAAAAAAABNE/xgxy5Zu23BA/s1600/hagfish2--rgov-800width.jpg) [http://cdn.iflscience.com/images/b711efe5-6af9-5342-b253-703277146cd2/default-1464357486-2270-hagfish-slime-biomaterial-of-the-future.jpg](http://cdn.iflscience.com/images/b711efe5-6af9-5342-b253-703277146cd2/default-1464357486-2270-hagfish-slime-biomaterial-of-the-future.jpg) Why would a truck be carrying several tons of live disgusting fish, besides the opportunity to create a nonlethal but yucky disaster (or the punchline to a joke)? Apparently they are a favored item in Korean cuisine. > [@](#): > > Although no humans sustained major injuries in the crash, there were a high number of hagfish casualties pictures show the road (and cars) covered in slime. I assume that the hagfish released slime as a defense mechanism, or possibly in death throes. People are anticipating the worst as the stuff decays in the summer sun. > [@](#): > > [Marine scientist Andrew] Thaler urged the crash victims to scoop the dense slime off their vehicles and to throw away their clothes because “hagfish slime is so tough and dense that scientists are looking into using it to create a natural Lycra.” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/2 "2017-07-14T12:35:35Z")
Didn’t see this other thread. They should used “hagfish” somewhere in the title: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=830992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=830992) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/3 "2017-07-14T13:04:00Z")
Actually, I was thinking that they should use “Bonanza” somewhere it the title. If I weren’t so lazy, I’d write a parody theme song for _Bonanza_, except based on hagfish. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/4 "2017-07-14T13:14:45Z")
_I got the wheels To truck a lotta’ eels It’s hagfish!_ ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/5 "2017-07-14T13:15:48Z")
I saw a photo in today’s paper of the slime aftermath. One of the most disgusting things I’ve seen in awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/6 "2017-07-14T13:40:48Z")
Yuck! > **[Hagfish slime scene at five-car crash on Highway 101](https://www.nrtoday.com/news/state/hagfish-slime-scene-of-five-car-crash-near-depoe-bay/article_0b6a73a2-3932-59a5-b4c1-792f40658c15.html)** > > DEPOE BAY — Several motorists involved in a multi-car crash with a flatbed truck found out what happened when you upset hagfish. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/7 "2017-07-14T13:41:09Z")
My highway is full of eels. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/8 "2017-07-14T13:46:53Z")
Here’s the Dirty Jobs segment where Mike went hagfish fishing: [Slime eel fishing - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WItdlSlNcN4#t=3m10s). One of the best episodes, right up there with the Vegas pig farmer. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/9 "2017-07-14T14:05:39Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > _I got the wheels > To truck a lotta’ eels > It’s hagfish!_ \*If any of the slime gets on any other cars, That’s the end for me! Hop Sing’s mad I’m so bad At this driving thing! - Repeat chorus. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/10 "2017-07-14T14:42:35Z")
Must have been the day for disgusting road spills. Here we had [500 pounds of pig intestines](http://www.wisn.com/article/truck-spills-load-of-animal-intestines-on-interstate-3/6332013). :eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/11 "2017-07-14T19:45:51Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Didn’t see this other thread. They should used “hagfish” somewhere in the title: > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=830992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=830992) As the originator of that thread, I just couldn’t resist a Monty Python reference. “My \ is full of hagfish” is, well, not right out, but still not quite right. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/12 "2017-07-14T19:51:26Z")
In other news, McDonald’s reports a shortage of Filet O’ Fish. :dubious: Whenever someone says that lamprey are gross, I have to assume that they have never heard of hagfish. As an added bonus disgusting thing, they are the Jeremiah Johnsons of the fish world, and have been known to eat the liver out of live fish. Reminds me of tent caterpillar blooms and Australian spiderweb infestations that show up every couple years. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/13 "2017-07-14T19:51:32Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > As the originator of that thread, I just couldn’t resist a Monty Python reference. “My \ is full of hagfish” is, well, not right out, but still not quite right. I enjoyed it. My mind went straight to the [TV Tropes page](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels), though. BTW, a [FAQ](http://www.southernfriedscience.com/your-car-has-just-been-crushed-by-hagfish-frequently-asked-questions/) on the accident. I’m beginning to wonder if those are actually Goa’uld , though. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/14 "2017-07-14T20:12:28Z")
If you haven’t worked in the seafood processing or fishing industry you would have no idea of the nature of the slime from these fish. You may think that the fire department will just sends some trucks and wash this stuff off the road. No, no, no! This is some serious space age slime. It may have applications that we have not explored yet. Military applications where a wounded soldier gets hit and opens up a packet of ell slime and squirts it in, wound sealed. An organic plastic alien material that will not wash off, dissolve, or be cleaned off of anything. It is a defense mechanism used by these fish to repel predators who may attack them while under salt water. The best the road workers are going to be able to do is force it off the road with high pressure hoses and let it rot it the ditch. I would think that the road construction/repair is going to be wrapped up quickly. July, hot days even of the coast, rotting fish slime in the ditch. Bring a barf bag if you are going down the Oregon coast. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/15 "2017-07-14T20:40:49Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > I would think that the road construction/repair is going to be wrapped up quickly. July, hot days even of the coast, rotting fish slime in the ditch. Bring a barf bag if you are going down the Oregon coast. Think it’ll still be stinking everyone out on the 21st of next month? You know, when the eclipse is going right through that area… ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/16 "2017-07-14T20:51:28Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Must have been the day for disgusting road spills. > > Here we had [500 pounds of pig intestines](http://www.wisn.com/article/truck-spills-load-of-animal-intestines-on-interstate-3/6332013). :eek::eek: Disgusting, hell! Them’s [chittlin’s](https://www.google.com/#q=chitterlings)! [sub]Proper name “chitterlings”.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/17 "2017-07-14T21:51:18Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > No, no, no! This is some serious space age slime. And rather [a lot of it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5PGZRxhAyU) :eek: Good for jamming up the gills of a predator; there are numerous videos of hagfish being bitten by sharks and other animals, and released a second later. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/18 "2017-07-15T13:01:18Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > \*If any of the slime gets on any other cars, > That’s the end for me! > > Hop Sing’s mad > I’m so bad > At this driving thing! > > - > > Repeat chorus. I had to leave for work before I got beyond the first verse, and it looks like you did a a bang-up snicker job of completing it. But just for the record: \*If you’re hot to see a lotta’ snot You gotta ride with me. Lost my load All over the road Hoss will go hun-gree …\* ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/19 "2017-07-15T14:12:19Z")
Hagfish Bonanza is my porn name. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hagfish-bonanza/791236/20 "2017-07-15T14:15:46Z")
[Now who’d’ve gone a done a thing like that](http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/e/e2/Cartoons-dick_00426962.png/revision/latest?cb=20141229175211)