Skate, Size, Food, Egg-cases. 165 



rare occasions a bigger fish would be obtained ; one exhibited 

 at Gravesend in December, 1881, being 5 feet across (Day). 



Whether the Skates migrate to deeper water during summer, 

 after breeding, we may leave an open question, data to substan- 

 tiate such a movement not being forthcoming. The same 

 applies as to whether their numbers have again increased 

 during the winter season, seeing there is now no long-lining 

 from Leigh to judge by. Apart from the area above mentioned, 

 and taken in a general way, a line drawn from the vicinity of 

 the Knock John, south and westwards, whence Skate of smaller 

 dimensions, young and otherwise, are spread irregularly over 

 the estuary to near the Nore. As, however, Skate are purely 

 ground feeders and sand burrowers in their way, whilst hook 

 and line are discarded, it follows that fewer are now captured 

 by at least the Leighmen. The better class of fish indeed 

 escape, for they are never taken in the stow-net, and only the 

 smaller sort in the trawl-net. Such places as the neighbourhood 

 of the Margate Sands, the Spaniards, or about the Oaze seem 

 where they are most often met with. We may instance a day's 

 fishing on the Oaze, mid- August, 1898, where skate were found, 

 numerous but small. A few over a foot or so long, but the 

 average 7 to 9 inches, body a little over half that, and propor- 

 tionately broad. 



The long-liners used to distinguish the Skate sexually as 

 "he-" and "she-fish," and considered the latter (females) as 

 much outnumbering the males. Their horny purses or egg- 

 cases were now and again observed floating about during the 

 early summer, whilst spawning was supposed to take place in the 

 spring among the deep channels. The flowing tide and 

 easterly winds would doubtless account for egg-cases up the 

 several estuaries. 



As to their food, the juveniles examined by us had chiefly 

 shrimps and diminutive crustaceans, though the more adult 

 besides had crab and fish remains. The Gravesend specimen 

 (supra) had devoured a dog-fish 2 feet long, a young skate 



