396 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



No true 8i)ine8 ou orbital rim; the latter in common with tho whole interorbital 

 area covered with coarse prickles. Me<lian row of spines Inlly develoi)C(l anil strong, 

 as are also the two scapul.ar spines. The prickles are arranged in quite rcgnlar series, 

 those laterally following the raj's, those mesially parallel with dorsal row of spines. 

 This species seems to be conlined to Alaskan waters. Among Pacific species it is 

 most nearly related to R. sieUulala and B. irachura, agreeing with both in the wide 

 rostral angle, the rather nuiform coloration, and tiio absence of the deliuitely placed 

 orbit.ll spines characteristic of other species. 



4. Raja stellulata .Jordan »fc Gilbert. 



Obtained in Unimak Pass, Bristol Bay, and along the northern shores of Unalaska 

 Island, in de])ths of 42 to 70 fathoms (stations B217, 32.55, 3258, 3310, and 3312). This 

 spe(des seems to have the most extensive range of any of our Pacific skates from 

 sliallow water. We find no difference between these si)ecimens and others from the 

 Santa Barbara Channel, California. 



The species does not apparently reach a very large size. A male specimen, GOO mm. 

 in total length, is mature, with claspers 1.50 mm. long, and the ]>ectoral hooks fully 

 developed. The latter are in 22 series, with 5 hooks in the widest series. The young 

 show a very similar armature to the adults. At no stage is there a trace of orbital 

 spines, the row of orbital prickles being in the young scarcely tlifferentiateil from tlie 

 interorbital band. In ayoung male, 200 mm. long, the seriesof median spines on liark 

 and tail is strongly developed, and the spines are uniform in size, the two anterior ones 

 separated by an interspace from the third. The two scapular spines are also strong. 

 In older specimens the spines on middle of back diminish in size, the anterior three 

 remaining strong. In some old specimens these reduced 8i)iues have entirely disap- 

 peared, the median series then appearing to begin over the front of base of ventrals. 

 The color is nnich as in li. parmifera, being brownish, with scattered ill-defined dusky 

 spots. In the young we find at base of pectoral fins a broken dark ring a little larger 

 than pupil. This does not inclose a light spot, is inconspicuous, and soon disappears. 

 The light spots at base of posterior third of pectorals, so conspicuous in the young 

 of II. parmifera, and visible even in older specimens, are not present in li. .sfeHiilata. 

 The prickles in tlic latter are smaller and more numerous than in 11. parmifera, but 

 the young resemble each other much more strongly than do the adults of the two 

 species, lu neither are prickles developed on the under surface, if we except a small 

 patch near tip of snout, sometimes present in R. parmifera. 



5. Raja abyssicola sp. nov. (Plate 20.) 



A single large male specimen taken near Queen Charlotte Island, station 3342, 

 depth 1,588 fathoms, the greatc^st depth recorded tor any species of skate. 



As in other deep-sea species of Raja, both the upi)er and under parts are uniform 

 brown in color, the upper surface obscurely marked anteriorly with very small but 

 definitely margined spots of darker brown. Both upper and lower surfaces ;ire 

 covered with long close-set slender bristle-like spines, which are fiexible and give a 

 velvety texture to the skin. The extreme anterior margin and a wide strip along 

 posterior margin of disk, the ocnlar region, tlie greater part of the upper surface of 

 ventrals and of the basal two-thirds of the under side of the tail, alone naked. No 

 large spines or prickles on orbital rim. A band of enlarged prickles on eacii side of 

 tail. An uninterru])tedserit^s of 21 large spines with \ery broad bases extends along 

 median line of tail to opposite (rout of ventrals. After an inteiru])tion,it reajipears 

 in a series of 3 sjiines on middle of back. A single spine between dorsal lins. Pec- 

 toral hooks very weakly and iiregnlarly developed. They are usually interradial in 

 position, have at most 3 or 4 in a series, and develop irregul.arly, the s])inc8 being 

 sometimes directed backwards instead of inwards. They are not arranged in definite 

 lengthwise series. Some of them renuiin permanently in an undevelojx'd eoiuliti(m 

 as elongate soft papilbe, and the gaps in the series indicate the total disappearance 

 of others. 



