262 



SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



bicuspid teeth, the others are simple. The tooth on the front of the tongue has a 

 deep median groove. The species is adapted for fastening itself to other fishes and 

 extracting from them their blood. 



The Lamprey is considered a good food fish in some localities, but in other places 

 it is rarely eaten. In Connecticut and Massachusetts the species is highly esteemed. 

 It is preserved by salting for several weeks before using. The fish are sometimes 

 caught with the hands or by means of a pole armed with a hook in the end. As it 

 is found in shallow water and will not usually relinquish its hold on the bottom, its 

 capture is easily effected. 



2. Common Skate (Raja erinacea Mitchill). 



Raja erinaceus MITCHILL, Am. Jour. Sci. Arts, IX, 290, pi. 6 (male), 1825 ; DEK.AY, 



N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 372, pi. LXXVIII, fig. 246, 1842. 

 Raja erinacea JORDAN & EVERMANN, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus., I, 68, 1896, pi. IX, 



fig. 29, 1900. 



COMMON SKATE. 



A very common species on our coast, from Maine to Virginia. It is one of the 

 small rays and is not much valued for food. Eggs of this Skate have been obtained 

 in Gravesend Bay in March. In captivity eggs have been deposited in winter. The 

 species will endure captivity during the spring, fall, and part of the winter, but not 

 at all in summer. 



Mitchill had the ray from Barnegat and from off Sandy Hook. DeKay did not 

 see the fish, but copied the description and figure of Mitchill. Smith refers to it as 

 the "Summer Skate" or "Bonnet Skate. 1 ' It is found at Woods Hole from 

 June to October. The names " Hedgehog Ray " and " Bonnet Skate " are given in 



