Big Skate 261 



Color: Upper surface of body brown, with darker spots 

 of various sizes scattered over its surface. Lower surface 

 white, often with gray blotches; mucous pores in snout 

 region with black dots. 



Distribution: Grand Banks of Newfoundland south to 

 North Carolina. 



Size: Reported to reach a length of 6 feet. Specimens 4- 

 AVi feet weigh 30-38 pounds. 



General Information: The Barn-Door Skate is often found 

 close to shore but is most common offshore in depths of 

 30-500 feet and has been taken in depths down to 1,400 

 feet. It feeds chiefly on crabs, shrimp, and lobsters but 

 also eats shellfish, squid, worms, and a wide variety of 

 fishes. The eggs are laid in winter, and the young are about 

 7 inches long at hatching. 



Economic Importance: A common species growing to a 

 large size, it comprises the bulk of the commercial catch 

 of skates marketed on the American Atlantic coast. Barn- 

 Door Skates are frequently caught by anglers "deep-sea" 

 fishing off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. 



Big Skate 

 Raja ocellata Mitchill 



Color: Upper surface of body light brown with scattered 

 round, black spots. Outer or hind part of pectoral fin often 

 has 1-4 dark brown or blackish spots edged with white. 

 Lower surface white, with irregular brown patches. 



