THE SKATE. 181 



THE SKATE. 



(Raia batis.) 



This member of the Ray family is very numerous on sandy 

 and oozy ground both in the British and other seas, and is taken 

 in large numbers in the trawl nets and also on trots, as well as oc- 

 casionally by hook and line when ground-fishing for Whiting, 

 Cod, or Conger. A Ray-fish trot or bult'er should consist of a 

 Cod bank-line sixty fathoms in length, with hooks Nos. 6, 7, 

 or 8, fig. 62, p. 210, on double Salmon twine, laid up with the 

 nossil-cock or fisherman's spinner (fig. 66, p. 216), in the follow- 

 ing manner : Cut six feet of the twine, attach the ends to two of 

 the hooked spindles, hang the lead to the middle, and spin up 

 the snood as shown and directed at p. 216. The little 

 spinning jack is also very useful for this work (fig. 23, p. 70). 



Bend on the snoods at intervals of 9 feet, by opening the 

 strand with a marline-spike or pricker, introducing the end 

 through the opening, and making a knot on it. Then, making a 

 clove-hitch on either side of it, tighten them, and it will never 

 draw. Bait with half a large Sand- Eel or a whole one of 

 moderate size, pieces of Mackerel or Long-Nose an inch wide, 

 half a Sand-Smelt, or pieces of Pilchard. Attach a twenty- 

 pound stone to each end, and other stones of a pound weight 

 at intervals, to prevent rolling. Shoot it on smooth ground, 

 and you will take Rays and other fish. On a flat sandy shore, 

 where there is a considerable rise and fall, you can use this 

 without a boat, especially at spring tides. 



Amongst the greater number of species and varieties of the 

 Ray genus enumerated by Couch, Yarrell, Gosse, and others, 

 there are, besides the Skate, two which are taken in large 

 quantities in trawls, on long lines, and occasionally when hand- 

 line fishing : these are the Homelyn and the Thornback. The 

 Homelyn much resembles the Skate, and like it has smooth 

 sides ; the Thornback has several large white buttons under the 

 skin, which carry strong recurved spines, very similar to the 

 claws of a cat. The flesh of the two former is excellent, and 

 furnishes the crimped Skate of the London market ; but that 

 of the Thornback is woolly and tasteless. As an illustration of 



