An inexpensive method to determine the fat content in fish using a nontoxic, noninflammable solvent is described. A preweighed, dry, ground fish sample is put in a chromatography column with anhydrous sodium sulfate. One hundred milliliters of monofluorotrichloromethane (MF Freon, refrigerant-11) is poured through the column and the effluent collected in a preweighed beaker. After evaporation of the solvent on a hot plate and cooling in a desiccator, the fat is weighed and fat content calculated. Calculations for samples from two species were similar to those obtained by Association of Official Agricultural Chemists fat extractor method. The column method compares favorably with the fat extractor concerning cost and time.