LONG-NOSED SKATE. ~~.1 



nets, the flesh is seldom devoted to any purpose beyond that 

 of baiting pots for catching crabs and lobsters. 



Skate arc in the best condition for the table during autumn 

 and winter. In spring, and in the early part of summer, they 

 are usually maturing eggs or young, and their flesh is then 

 soft and woolly. 



The Long-nosed Skate is immediately distinguished from 

 any other Skate found on the British coast, not only by'thc 

 great length of the nose, but also by the distance between its 

 most extreme point and the transverse line of the mouth ; 

 characters particularly observable in comparison with the spe- 

 cies next in order, with which it most assimilates in colour. 

 The snout is very much produced, narrow and sharp, slender 

 as far as the eyes, from whence the body dilates gradually 

 to its greatest breadth, which is behind the centre ; the 

 whole length of the body and tail one-third longer than the 

 width. On the upper surface the body is of a light lead 

 colour ; the tail with a row of crooked spines ; the small fins 

 on the tail not far removed from each other, the second about 

 its own length from the end. The under surface is a dirty 

 greyish white, marked with numerous mucous pores which 

 look like dusky specks ; the body is thin in substance ; the 

 nostrils are lobed ; the mouth narrow ; the teeth in old males 

 sharp : on the snout two rows of minute tubercular spines ; 

 towards the outer upper edge of the pectoral fins on each side 

 are the usual rows of sharp hooked spines, and close to the 

 tail the long pendent claspers. The figure here given repre- 

 sents the under surface of a female. 



According to Mr. Couch, this species frequents deep water, 

 and is not caught through the winter : fishermen say that it is 

 exceedingly violent when hooked. I may here state gene- 

 rally, that the greater part of the Skate brought to market arc 

 taken in trawl-nets. 



