Economic Importance : 



This species is too rare to be of economic importance in Rhode 

 Island. 



Order BATOIDEI 



Family Torpedinidae 

 Genus Torpedo 



(20) Torpedo nobiliana Bonaparte 1835 



Atlantic torpedo, electric ray, numbfish, crampfish 



Specimens: 



This species is frequently taken near Block Island and Sakonnet 

 during the summer months, according to Bigelow and Schroeder 

 (1953 a), and Tracy (1910). Commercial fishermen have reported 

 to the author its infrequent appearance in Block Island Sound 

 during the summers of 1956-57. The Atlantic torpedo is of no 

 economic importance. 



Family Rajidae 

 Genus Raja 



(21) Raja laevis Mitchill 1817 



Barndoor skate, peck-nosed skate, sharp-nosed skate 



Specimens: (PLATE 10) 



This species is a very common skate which has been observed 

 throughout the year in catches of Rhode Island trawlers. This is 

 the largest species of skate found in Rhode Island waters. Speci- 

 mens observed reached a length of five feet (TL) and weight of 

 35 pounds. This species is found in deeper waters in the summer 

 and inshore areas in spring and fall. Description and photographs 

 of this species occur in Gordon (1957 n). 



Economic Importance: 



Skates are chiefly utilized as a trash species for rendering into 

 fish meal. Occasionally they are shipped to the New York fish 

 markets under the name of rajafish. Some fishermen have been 

 known to cut out sections of skate wings and sell them as sea 

 scallops. 



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