(22) Raja ocellata Mitchill L815 



Big skate, spotted skate, eyed skate, winter skate 



Specimens: 



This species is very common in inshore waters during win tit- 

 months. It tends to go into deeper waters in summer. More pounds 

 of the big skate were landed in the Rhode Island trash fishery from 

 June, 1954, to May, 1955, than any other species of skate (Graham, 

 unpublished manuscript). Numerous specimens from two to three 

 feet in total length were examined. 



(23) Raja eglanteria Bosc 1802 



Clearnose skate, brier skate, summer skate 



Specimens: 



This is a southern species of skate which is found in Rhode Island 

 waters only during the summer and fall. Specimens two to three 

 feet in total length were examined during August and September, 

 1957. 



(24) Raja garmani Whitley 1939 

 Rosetted skate, leopard skate 



Bigelow and Schroeder (1953 a, 1953 b) mention that this species 

 is restricted to depths greater than 35-40 fathoms and is one of the 

 most abundant skates found offshore along southern New England. 

 The above references cite specimens taken from off of Montauk 

 Point and off Block Island. An 11 inch leopard skate was taken 

 May 8, 1957, off Block Island by the trawler Dauntless. 



(25) Raja erinacea Mitchill 1825 



Little skate, prickly skate, summer skate 



Specimens: 



This is not only the most common skate along the coast of New 

 England, but the most familiar because of its habit of coming into 

 shoal water (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953 a). The little skate ranks 

 third in numerical abundance in the Rhode Island trash fishery 

 (Graham, unpublished manuscript). This species has been observed 

 by the writer throughout the year in the catch of Rhode Island 



17 



