50 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The clear-nosed skate-, sometimes called brier ray, reaches a 

 length of 2 feet or more. It inhabits the eastern coast of the 

 United States from Cape Cod to Florida; it has been found 

 moderately common in Great South bay in and near Fire Island 

 inlet. Early in September both males and females were caught 

 at Fire Island inlet and Wigo inlet, but in October the species 

 appeared to be scarce. It has no commercial value in the bay 

 and is usually thrown away. 



At Woods Hole Mass, it is not common. A few are taken 

 every year in traps at Menemsha, Marthas Vineyard. 



26 Raja laevis (Mitchill) 

 Barn-door Skate 



Raja laevis MITCHILL, Am. Month. Mag. II, 327, 1818; JORDAN & EVERMANN, 



Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat Mus. 71, 1896; SMITH, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 89, 



1898. 

 Raia laevis DE KAY, N. Y. Fauna. Fishes, 370, 1842; JORDAN & GILBERT, 



Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 42, 1883; STORER, Hist. Fish. Mass. 266, pi. 



XXXIX, fig. 2, 1867. 



Similar in shape to R. eglanteria, but larger and with 

 fewer rows of teeth. The length of the disk equals three 

 fourths of its width. The spines of the body are few and 

 small; small patches of slightly enlarged spines on the anterior 

 extension of the pectorals opposite the eyes and spiracles; 

 slightly enlarged, hooked spines in several narrow rows on the 

 angles of the disk in males; a median row, more or less incom- 

 plete, of distant spines on the tail and usually a lateral row on 

 each side, many of these lateral spines sometimes obsolete; 

 small spines on the snout, along the anterior edges of the disk, 

 and on the top of the head. Tail nearly as long as the disk; 

 two subequal dorsal fins, scarcely half as long as the snout, 

 separated by a narrow interspace and extending to near the end 

 of the tail; no caudal fin; eye one fifth as long as the snout; 

 mouth large, jaws curved, teeth in about 30 rows in each jaw; 

 length of claspers of the male equals one third of the width 

 of the disk. Color usually brownish with paler spots, these 

 sometimes surrounded by dark rings. 



