Oarfish are part of many Japanese folklore stories. Smaller than the giant oarfish, the Regalecus russelii (slender oarfish) is said to be messenger from the Sea God's Palace. When these fishes have washed ashore, they are of no use except for research because people have tried eating them, and they taste like gelatinous goo. Giant oarfish meat has a gelatin-like consistency, which makes it not suitable for eating. In history, when a giant oarfish washed ashore, it was considered as a prediction for an earthquake.