1126 



SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 



The length of tlie iiead to the occiput is about 

 28 — 30 % (according to Lilljeborg sometimes '3) of 

 the length of the body. The longitudinal diameter of 

 the ej'es measures about ' ,(,■ — '12 of the length of the 

 snout. The spiracles, tlie diameter of wiiicli is as usual 

 variable, are of about the same size as the eyes. The 

 internasal width is about 40 — 45 % of the distance be- 

 tween eitlier nostril and the tip of the snout, which 

 distance measures about 90 % of the length of the snout. 

 The breadth of the mouth, even in old si)ecimens, is 

 perceptibly less than the internasal width. The denti- 

 tion almost exactly resembles that of the common Skate. 

 The only difference that might be adduced is that, on 

 comparing specimens of equal size, the teeth of the 

 Long-nosed Skate prove to be somewhat smaller, and 

 tlie retral cusp ascends in a more conical form. The 

 rows of teeth are nearly the same in number as those 

 of the common Skate. The divergencies to be observed 

 in this respect are most naturally regarded as the re- 

 sults of individual circumstances. 



In middle-aged and large specimens the whole skin, 

 both of the dorsal side and the ventral, is densely and 

 almost uniformh' covered with spinulte of almost equal 

 size, which have a stel lately expanded base, fairly dis- 

 tinct to the naked eye, and consisting of 3 — 5 prostrate 

 rays, each of a length nearly equal to the height of 

 the spine. In the females no smooth gaps are left, 

 except the circumanal region and the under side of the 

 ventral fins and tail, which surface is partly naked. The 

 rest of the skin is uniformly roughened throughout, 

 even to the hind margins of the pectoral tins. In the 

 males the smooth patches are rather more extensive. 

 Around the eyes the spinuhr are somewhat coarser, 

 and in young specimens, according to Dodeklein, a 

 well-developed aculeus is set at the preorbital margin. 



The only other aculei possessed bj' this species 

 consist of a row on each lateral margin of the tail. 

 They are comparatively small, but of unequal size, 

 pointed and compressed, with the base prolongated and 



as it were lobed. Tiieir arrangement is iifit symmetrical, 

 and their tips are directed indiscriminatelj' forwards or 

 backwards. 



The coloration of the dorsal side is lirownish grav 

 or reddisli l)rown, with sparse, light brown or even 

 milk-white sjiots, scattered in curved rows or iiTegu- 

 larly. The anterior side-margins and the spine-cards 

 of the males are light gray. The under surface is 

 coloured and marked as in the common Skate, but 

 seems in general to be lighter. 



The Scandinavian distribution of the Long-nosed 

 Skate is probabh' the same as tliat of tlie common 

 Skate, only that the former does not enter the C'attegat 

 proper, though it no doubt approaches the Swedish coast 

 in the Skager Rack. On the 14th of November, 1889, 

 Mr. C. A. Hansson secured in Koster Fjoi'd, off' Hels6, 

 the male figured in our plate. The northern limit of 

 the species apparently lies near Trondhjem, the southern 

 limit off' Madeira. The Long-nosed Skate is besides a 

 rather ct)mmon fish in the Mediterranean. Its batliy- 

 metric range appears to extend in Scandinavia between 

 depths of about 70 and 150 fathoms. 



In its manner of life the Long-nosed Skate re- 

 sembles the common Skate. The same fishes are found 

 in the stomach of both, and oft' our coasts they are 

 taken on the same tackle (long-lines) and in company. 

 With regard to the deposition of the ova Grieg noted" 

 that a female 129 cm. long, which ^vas caught on the 

 18th of May, 11 miles west of Bergen, laid a fully 

 ripe ^t^g when drawn into the boat. 



In BohusIiVn the Long-nosed Skate is well known 

 among the deep-sea fishermen and to the fish-dealers. 

 It is there called, according to Malm, vdriiuhb (Big 

 Beak). It is taken less frequently by the Swedish 

 fishermen than the common Skate; but according to 

 Storm, Jensen, and Grieg it is common in Trondhjem 

 Fjord and oft' Bergen. 



As a food-fish it is considered inferior to the com- 

 mon Skate. (Fries, Smitt.) 



I 



Bergens Museums Aarbog 1892, ji. XVIII. 



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