34 PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



family EHINOBATID^. 



26. Rhinobatus productus Ayres. — Guitar; Shovel-nosed Shark. 



From Cape Mendocino southward; exceedingly abundant from Santa 

 Barbara to San Diego, inhabiting sandy shores. It brings forth its 

 young in August. It reaches a length of 3 feet and a weight of 15 

 pounds. The tails of moderate- sized specimens are eaten by the Chinese 

 and Mexicans, although little valued by either. The body is sometimes 

 used for lobster bait. 



27. Platyrhinoidis triseriatus (Jordan & Gilbert) Garman. 



From San Francisco southward; generally abundant, with the pre- 

 ceding. It is viviparous, bringing forth its young in August, 4 to 6 in 

 each ovarial sac. It reaches a length of 20 inches and a weight of 4 to 

 5 ijoiinds. It is used for no purpose. 



28. Syrrhina exasperata (Jordan & Gilbert) Garman. 



Seen by us at San Diego only, where half-grown specimens are very 

 abundant. No adults have been seen by us, but it will probably be 

 found to be a vivij)arous (and therefore Ehinobatoid) species. It is 

 not used as food. 



Family EAIID^. 



29. Raia stellulata Jordan & Gilbert. 



Seen by us only in the Bay of Monterey, where it is very abundant 

 in the winter and spring. Both adults and young are taken in great 

 numbers in the gill-nets. It reaches a length of 30 inches. It is never 

 sent to market, its dark color and very rough skin rendering it unsala- 

 ble, the conventional ray being light brown and nearly smooth. 



30. Raia rhina Jordan &, Gilbert. 



From Monterey to Vancouver's Island ; less common than the others, 

 but not rare. It reaches a length of 32 inches. In the neighborhood 

 of San Francisco it is sent to the city markets with B. hinoculata and 

 B. inornata; elsewhere it is rarely eaten 



31. Raia inornata J. & G. — Ray; Skate; Eaie. 



Very abundant about San Francisco and Monterey, where it is taken 

 in gill-nets and seines. It reaches a length of 24 to 30 inches. It is 

 brought into the San Francisco market in large numbers from the im- 

 mediate vicinity, never being shii^ped from any considerable distance. 

 The pectoral fins are alone eaten, and these chiefly by the French. 



At Santa Barbara a variety or subspecies (var. inermis) of this form 

 occurs in some abundance. It is similar in size and appearance, but 

 has the spines and armature of the body and tail very little developed. 



