420 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



taken the weight of two hundred pounds. It is common 

 on all parts of the British coast, and has received various 

 names according to the locality in which it occurs. In 

 Scotland it is named Skate or Blue Skate, in England Grey 

 Skate ; and according to Yarrell, at Lyne Regis, on ac- 

 count of its dusky grey colour, it is called Tinker. In the 

 Firth of Forth these fish are met with in great numbers, 

 particularly in the neighbourhood of the Bass and the May, 

 where they are taken in nets, and are often found on lines 

 set in deep water for cod. In the spring months, the 

 Edinburgh market has a daily supply, and so great is the 

 demand required, that no less than a dozen cart loads 

 are sold during the week. Some persons cook them when 

 newly caught, others dress them in the salted condition, 

 while others again allow them to hang in the open air for 

 weeks, until they have acquired a green putrescent ap- 

 pearance, and in this state they are considered a luxury. 

 The pectoral fins are the parts generally made use of as 

 food, and when cut in a peculiar form are sold under the 

 name of crimped skate, which is esteemed a delicate morsel. 

 The French are said to be remarkably fond of this species 

 of skate, especially when large ; the smaller specimens about 

 the size of a common plate when fried are particularly sweet 

 and delicate, and are brought to the Edinburgh market in 

 the month of July with other skate of small size. 



According to Colonel Montagu, the immense quantities of 

 this tribe of fishes which are taken in the county of Devon, 

 are chiefly used for baiting crab-pots. It has been com- 

 puted that four boats employed in crabbing, consume in 

 one season twenty tons of fish, principally ray ; but it is 

 probable, not less than forty tons of ray are brought on 

 shore by fishermen of the small hamlets of Torcross on the 



