462 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



be found characteristic of Scyllioid sharks. No trace of them is found in older 

 specimens. They strongly resemble the primary definitely placed spines of Raja, 

 and have doubtless, as in the latter, some taxonomic value. 



Young specimens have the dorsal and anal fins occupying somewhat different posi- 

 tions from that Jbund in adults, and of difierent relative sizes. In a specimen 110 

 mm. long the dorsals are very narrow, and the anterior dorsal is much farther back, 

 being mostly bc'hind the ventrals instead of terminating above their posterior line of 

 insertion. The anal is very long, separated from caudal by a hardly appreciable 

 space, and in front slightly overlapping the first dorsal. In a specimen 240 mm. long 

 the anal is still disproportionately long, se])arated from caudal by about one-fifth base 

 of fin instead of one-half base of fin, as in adults. The first dorsal has apparently 

 shifted forward, as it now terminates slightly behind ventrals. 



A male specimen, 430 mm. long, has the claspcrs projecting but little beyond the 

 ventrals. It difiers as follows from the original description : The distance from tip 

 of snout to front of mouth is more than half the greatest width of snout. The first 

 dorsal is more posteriorly placed, extendiug behind the vertical from ventrals, the 

 length of its base contained but If times in the space between dorsals. This poste- 

 rior jiosition of the first dorsal may be a case of retarded development, as the fin 

 shifts forward during growth. The scales on side of tail are smaller and less 

 crowded than those forming the upper caudal band, but are otherwise wholly similar, 

 each possessing a strong central spine and a pair of shorter lateral cusps, and having 

 the central portion deeply grooved. 



Family GALEID^. The Requiem Sharks. 



3. Rhinotriacis henlei Gill. 



One specimen from station 3100, in 29 fathoms. 



Family RAJID.ffi. The Skates. 



4. Raja stellulata Jordan &, Gilbert. 



Stations 3105, 3129, 3189, 3196, 3204, and 3208, in 200 to 218 fathoms. 



No series of young is at hand. In a single young male, 130 mm. long, there is no 

 trace of spines or papilla} on the orbital rim, but those along m iddle of back are 

 very large, as is also a large spine on each shoulder. The prickles are coarse, 

 entirely covering the disk and tail above, none on the lower side. The prickles on 

 sides of disk are in rows following the pectoral rays, those on middle of back are in 

 lengthwise series, and those below eye are in rows parallel with its lower border. This 

 serial arrangement of prickles I have noticed also in the young of Catulus xaniurua. 



In four larger specimens, 300 to 390 mm. long, there is no trace of ocular spines. 

 Of primary spines there seem to be 3 or 4 behind the occiput, the most anterior 

 occupying the position of the single postoccipital spine in B. inornata, and a series 

 of 17 to 20 on middle of tail. The interspace on middle of back is apparently filled 

 in later by 6 or 7 spines, which are just appearing in one of the large specimens and 

 are smaller than the caudal series in all the others. No ocellated spot appears at base 

 of pectorals, an ill-defined darker spot occupying this position in one specimen. 



5. Raja inornata Jordan &, Gilbert. 



Stations 3106, 3115, and 3147, in 43 to 76 fathoms. The collection presents a very 

 interesting scries from unhatched young to adults, and throws some light on the 

 development of the spines and on the early stages of fins and tail. 



The first spines to appear correspond exactly in position with those described 

 below in liaja rhina. There are three definitely placed on the orbital rim, one occu- 

 pying a median position behind the occiput, and a continuous series along median 

 lineof tail. The postof^cipital spine can be always identified by its relation to a 

 conspicuous short double series of pores. These series are curved, and each presents 

 its convex side toward the middle line of the back. It is between the posterior 

 diverging ends of these series that the spino in question is found, 



