66 FISHES AN> FISHERIES OF THE IRISH SEA. 



and the Deposit Buoy. We have also taken it near Piel in the Barrow Channel, and off 

 Maughold Head ; and Mr. Walker records it from Rhos weir and Colwyn Bay, and Professor 

 White from the Menai Straits. It has been frequently taken off the Isle of Man, one is 

 recorded from Port Erin, and we have taken it also in the Kibble, and have seen in taken 

 on the offshore grounds by the trawlers. 



Family TORPEDINID/E. 



TORPEDO NOBILIANA, Bonap. Torpedo. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 331, PI. CLXIV.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 



The Electric Ray ranges from Great Britain to the Mediterranean and Madeira. It 

 occurs occasionally in the Irish Sea. Byerley records that a specimen was taken by Hoylake 

 fishermen in the summer of 1853 ; and we obtained one brought into Liverpool in 1892. The 

 latter specimen measured 3 feet 6 inches in length, and 2 feet 4 inches across the widest part. 

 One is also recorded in the books of the Liverpool Free Public Museum as having been "caught 

 in Meols Bay, Southport (weighing 30 Ibs ), 18/10/84 ;" and Professor White tells us he has 

 obtained two within the last ten years from Carnarvon Bay. 



Family RAIID/E. 

 RAIA BATIS, Linn. Blue Skate. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 336, PI. CLXVI.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Local name, "Skate." 

 This is " the skate " of our local fishermen, and is our largest species. It is widely 

 distributed in N.W. Europe and the Mediterranean, and is common all round the British 

 Islands. In our district it is abundant in all parts, and is taken both by line and by trawling 

 all the year round on nearly all our fishing grounds. The young are frequently taken in the 

 shrimp nets in shallow water. 



RAIA MACRORHYNCHUS, Raf. Flapper Skate. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 338, PL CLXVI I.) 



This species (?) is said to range from our seas to the Mediterranean. It has been 

 recorded from Dublin Bay (McCoy), and our fishermen say that they occasionally trawl a skate 

 on the off-shore grounds which seems to correspond in character with this species. We have 

 not yet seen any specimens ourselves which could be satisfactorily distinguished from R. batis. 



RAIA ALBA, Lacep. White Skate. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 339, PL CLXVI 11.) 



This species has the same distribution as R. batis, but is not so common. " Pennant 

 obtained it off Carnarvonshire, and records one from the Menai Straits, taken in July, 1768, 

 nearly 7 feet long, and 5 feet 3 inches broad." " Yarrell also records this fish from Liverpool " 

 (Day). Byerley records it from Liverpool, as R. marginata. Mr. E. W. L. Holt, who has 

 been paying special attention to British Raiidae informs us that some of the records of this 

 species refer to R. batis. It is occasionally taken on long lines off Port Erin. 



