562 THE SHARP-NOSED RAY. 



Jutland Eeef in the Skager-Rack. Elsewhere in the Scan- 

 dinavian seas it has not hitherto been identified. It is 

 believed to attain a very large size. Those captured in 

 Swedish waters, it is true, have not exceeded five feet in 

 length, but none of them, as there is reason to believe, 

 had ai'rived at maturity. This fish lives generally in deep 

 Avater ; but with its breeding and other habits Northern 

 naturalists are but little acquainted. 



The Sharp-nosed or White Ray {Blagarns-Rocka, Svv. ; 

 Hokl-Rocke, or white skate, Dan. ; R. I'mtea, B. Fries) was 

 likewise rare with us and on the western coast of Norway, 

 where, however, as yet, it has not been recognized much 

 higher uji than Stavanger (lat. 59°). In the southern 

 portion of the Cattegat, and in the Sound, as also in the 

 Baltic, it would appear to be entirely unknown. The 

 fishermen in the Bohus Skiirgard say this species may 

 be readily distinguished from others of the family by the 

 paleness or whiteness of its colour, resembling Blagarn, 

 or unbleached yarn ; and hence its Swedish appellation. 

 Yarrell informs us that it has been taken, oft" tlie coast of 

 Northumberland, seven feet nine inches in length and 

 eight feet three inches in breadth, and adds that it is the 

 largest of the British rays ; for though in length and 

 breadth it may not exceed the common skate, its superior 

 thickness renders it heavier. But such giants, or anything 

 approaching them in size, have not hitherto been heard 

 of in the Scandinavian seas. This fish confines itself 

 for the most pai't to the deeps. Kroyer mentions that 

 the specimens brought under his notice in Norway, all 

 young ones of about three feet in length, were captured in 

 fully one hundred fathoms water. " The adults," he goes 

 on to say, " only approach the coast during summer and 

 autumn, but the young, on the contrary, are met with 

 near the shore all the vear round." Little or nothing 

 is known of the habits of this fish. 



