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 Orientate " 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 .