The authors described the results of preliminary screenings of hydrocarbon-utilizing yeasts of which 56 strains were obtained. Fifty four strains belonging to the genus Candida: C. parapsilosis (26 strains), C. intermedia (9 strains), C. lipolytica (8 strains), C. tropicalis (5 strains), C. cloacae (1 strain), C. maltosa (1 strain), C. guilliermondii (1 strain), C. rugosa (1 strain), C. albicans (1 strain), and C. krusei (1 strain). The remaining two strains were Hansenula anomala and Rhodotorula rubra. All strains belonging to the genus Candida, except C. krusei, exhibited the powerful kerosene-utilizing ability. Stock cultures obtained from type culture collections also exhibited the strong kerosene-assimilatory ability as well as these newly isolated strains. n-Paraffins containing more than 9 carbon atoms were easily attacked by hydrocarbon-utilizing yeasts.