FISHES OF THE GULF OF MAINE 



71 



Figure 30. — Smooth-tailed or prickly skate (Raja senta), male, about 20J4 inches long, Emerald Bank, Nova Scotia. 



From Bigelow and Schroeder. Drawing by E. X. Fiacher. 



spaced more loosely. There is no free space 

 between the two dorsal fins. The disc is a little 

 broader than long (1.2 to 1.3 times); the tail 

 occupies about one-half of the total length. 



Color. — The upper side, including the tail, is pale 

 brown, with many obscure darker spots. Newly 

 hatched specimens are also marked on the tail with 

 two pale cross bars, each outlined by a darker cross 

 bar or blotch in front of it and one behind, but 

 these bars disappear with growth. The lower 

 surface is white, either plain or with a few dusky 

 blotches. Sometimes the rear part of the tail is 

 uniformly dark below. 



Size. — A male about 20 inches (515 mm.) long 

 that we have seen seems to be sexually mature. 

 The largest specimen of which we have record 

 was 24 inches long. 



Habits. — This skate appears equally at home 

 on the soft mud and clay bottoms of the deeper 

 basins of the Gulf and on the sand, broken shells, 

 gravel and pebbles of the offshore fishing banks. 

 Nothing is known of its diet. Egg cases, appar- 

 ently of this species, have been trawled in deep 

 water (82-164 fathoms), in the estuary of the St. 



Lawrence Kiver in July and August ; probably 

 thev are laid in summer in the Gulf of Maine, as 

 well. 



General range. — Atlantic shelf of North America 

 from the offing of Charleston, S. C, to the Nova 

 Scotia Banks and Gulf of St. Lawrence, a few 

 reaching the southern part of the Newfoundland 

 Banks; mostly in depths greater than about 40 

 to 50 fathoms. The deepest record for it is 478 

 fathoms off South Carolina. 



Occurrence in the Gulf of Maine. — This skate, 

 once considered a rare species, is now known to 

 occur generally throughout the western side of the 

 Gulf wherever the water is more than 45 to 50 

 fathoms deep, 25 fathoms being our shoalest 

 record for it and on the offshore Banks as well. 

 We have trawled it on several occasions in the 

 deep trough west of Jeffreys Ledge; in deep water 

 (80-100 fathoms) near Cashes Ledge; also in the 

 basin east and southeast of Cape Cod. And, 

 being known from the southeastern slope of 

 Browns Bank, it is to be expected generally in the 

 eastern side of the Gulf, as well as in the western, 

 at the proper depth. It is widespread on Georges 



