132 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 



curved; each side of tail with a dermal fold. Colour light brown, with small round 

 spots of dark brown ; no pectoral ocelli. Length 1 to 2 feet. 



Baja laevis Mitchill. 



Synonyms — 



Baja laevis Storer. 



Raja granulata Gill. 

 Common name — 



Barndoor skate. 



Characteristics : Angles of the disk more acute than in any of the others ; miozzle 

 much produced, somewhat shovel-shaped at tip. Spines of the body very few and 

 small ; some present above the eyes and spiracles, on the snout, along the anterior border 

 of the pectorals, and on the back; those on the back very small; a median dorsal row 

 of larger hooked spines extending along the median line of the posterior portion of the 

 back and the tail ; usually two lateral rows on the tail. Colour variable, brownish, with 

 paler spots, which are usually ringed with darker. Length reaching 42 feet. 



" This species is frequently captured by the cod fishermen (out of Canso) on their 

 deep sea trawls of hooks. The only specimen minutely examined by me was 1,075 mm. 

 long." ^^ " The barndoor skate is very common at Tignish." '^'^ 



One specimen which was stranded at the Biological Station, at St. Andrews on 

 August 27, 1917, measured 1,450 mm. or about 4J feet in length, and 1,100 mm. or 

 about S-i feet in width, and weighed 40 pounds. The wings, representing the edible 

 portion, when xjut from this fish weighed together 12 pounds. 



This species is used to some extent as food in the United States and is sold in fish 

 markets. 



Raja ocellata Mitchill. 



Synonyms — 



None. 

 Common name — 



Big skate. 



Characteristics: General form and appearance that of Raja ervnao&a but much 

 larger; the arrangement of spines similar, except that additional rows of spines are 

 present down the back and along the sides of the tail; caudal fin not separate, rough 

 with small spines; jaws curved. Colour light brown, with round dark spots; a trans- 

 lucent space on each side of the snout ; near the posterior angle of the pectoral there is 

 usually (but not always) a large white ocellus, with a dark spot in the centre and a 

 darker border; two smaller similar spots often present. Length reaching three feet. 



"A most common species at Canso although some of the specimens which I 

 examined may belong to the allied species, R. erinacea. I found it difficult to decide 

 finally in the case of some examples. They were all taken in the trap-nets set for 

 mackerel, close along the shore." "Four specimens measured ranging from 61 to 

 70 cm." ^« 



" This skate is caught very commonly on the set trawl of hooks, it is also seen 

 swimming within a few feet of the beach, and is often speared from wharfs." ^* 



Raja radiata Donovan. 



Synonym — 



Raja americanus DeKay. 

 Common name — 



Starry ray. 



16 Cornish, 1907. 



IT Cornish, 1912. 



18 Cornish, 19'07. 



19 Cornish, 1912. 



