14 THE FISH OF DORSET. 



RAIA BATIS. 



SKATE, TRUE SKATE, ROKER, OR MAID. 



Common at certain seasons, such as when the sprats come in. 

 It is taken on long lines and in trawl nets. The best baits are 

 herring, sprats, or whiting. The smaller ones are good eating and 

 are best in the latter part of the winter, and are called Maids. 

 The large ones are coarse, and are much used as bait for lobster 

 pots. They sometimes grow to a large size, one being taken off 

 Swanage in December, 1885, weighing 1191bs. The flesh of these 

 fish, and, in fact, all the rays, contains a good deal of ammonia, the 

 smell of which is plainly perceptible after a few days' keeping, and 

 which has been extracted by one of our members, Mr. T. B. Groves. 

 Couch I., p. 87, PI. XVIII. Day II., p. 336, PI. CLXVI. 



RAIA CLAVATA. 

 THORNBACK OR THORNY. 



This is the commonest of all the rays, and hardly a trawl is 

 hauled without some of these fish in it. It does not attain to so 

 large a size as the skate, but I have seen them about three feet long. 

 It frequents shallower water than the skate, and will take most 

 kinds of fresh bait. It is very good eating when not too large, and 

 is better for keeping a day or two ; in fact, it will keep good a deal 

 longer than most fish. It derives its name from the back being 

 covered with sharp, strong spines, especially along the tail. 

 Couch I, p. 99, PI. XXII. Day II., p. 343, PI. CLXXI. 



RAIA MARGINATA. 



BORDERED RAY. 



' W. Thompson records one taken off Lyme Regis 21st July, 1871, 

 and sent to Dr. J. Couch, who figures it Vol. I., p. 110, PI. XXVI. 



RAIA MACULATA. 

 SPOTTED RAY, HOMELYN, OR SANDY RAY. 



This is quite as common as the thornback, but rather better 

 eating. It frequents much the same ground, but is not, I think, so 



