tained "off the coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island" (Bigelow 

 and Schroeder 1953 a). 



Genus Prionace 



(13) Prionace glauca (Linnaeus) 1758 

 Great blue shark, blue dog 



Specimens: 



Frequently observed by trawl vessels during the summer, this 

 species rarely strays inshore. On August 22, 1943, twenty-eight 

 members of this species were observed in one hour at a distance 

 from four to ten miles off Block Island. In Rhode Island waters 

 this species ranges in size from about two to twelve feet. The 

 blue shark is of no commercial importance at present. 



Genus Carcharhinus 



(14) Carcharhinus milbcrti (Muller and Henle) 1841 

 Sandbar shark, brown shark 



Specimens: 



A specimen 7.25 feet (TL), weighing 160 pounds, was taken at 

 Breton's Reef, September, 1842 (Tracy 1910). Two or three foot 

 specimens are occasionally taken in Newport traps during August 

 and September. It is rather common off Rhode Island during the 

 warmer months, occasionally entering Narragansett Bay. It has 

 been reported by commercial fishermen off Block Island from 

 May to November. 



Economic Importance: 



In the Florida shark fishery, it is of considerable commercial 

 importance, but in Rhode Island waters it is usually utilized with 

 the trash species or discarded. 



(15) Carcharhinus obscurus LeSueur 1818 

 Dusky shark, shovelnose 



Specimens: 



The dusky shark frequently occurs in the Rhode Island traps. 

 A four foot dusky shark was taken in the trap off the Point Judith 



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