Holt — Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland, 453 



Eiver, 26 fathoms ; off Gregory Sound, 48 fathoms ; and Donegal Bay, 32 fathoms. 

 Specimens 9 to 14 inches, were in KHkieran Bay, 5 fathoms ; off the Aran Islands and 

 in Donegal Bay, 20 to 33 fathoms ; and at 53 fathoms off Dingle Bay. Our experience 

 is thus contrary to that of Fulton, who found that on the East Coast of Scotland imma- 

 ture Thornback are rather more abundant in the deep off-shore water. This may be 

 partly accounted for by our having used the shrimp net almost always in shallow 

 water, and also by the comparative scarcity of weeds on the deeper grounds, whereby 

 the very young forms are less liable to be entangled, and so brought up in the ordinary 

 trawl. 



SPOTTED RAY — ^aia macuUta. 



No examples were found at a greater depth than 48 fathoms ; but both the mature 

 and larger immature stages occurred at all depths between that and 4 fathoms. They 

 appear to chiefly affect a depth of less than 20 fathoms, and, like the last species, are 

 especially abundant in Blacksod Bay and similar places. The smallest examples, about 

 5 inches, were met with in 20 to 22 fathoms in Boylach Bay, and all stages, from 

 about 8 inches upwards, were found in Blacksod Bay. A specimen of 15 inches was 

 in 40 fathoms in Dingle Bay, and 1 of 12 inches in 14 fathoms off Ballynakill. 



OWL RAY — Raia microcellata. 



All examples were between 5 and 19 fathoms. No small specimens were observed. 

 The vertical range is probably very similar to that of the spotted ray ; but it appears 

 to be very local in its horizontal distribution (having been taken only in Blacksod, 

 Boylach, and Loughrosmore Bays), a fact which probably accounts for it having 

 hitherto escaped the notice of naturalists in this country. 



SANDY HAY — Raia circiclaris. 



The 7 mature examples occurred at a maximum and minimum depth of 154 and 13 

 fathoms. Only 1 was in less than 25 fathoms, viz. at 13 fathoms in Downies Bay, 

 all the others occurring in open waters, and 2 at 28 miles from land. The only 

 immature representative, 8 inches long, was at 115 fathoms, 40 miles from land. 



According to Day, this species is mostly found in sheltered bays ; but such evidence 

 as I can collect on the subject tends to show that the preponderance is rather the other 

 way. Thus, Professor M'Intosh, in his Eeport to the Trawling Commission records a 

 number of mature and young examples from Aberdeen Bay, 13 to 34 fathoms. During 

 1889 the Fishery Board tender, " Garland," obtained 4 examples in St. Andrew's Bay, 

 Aberdeen Bay, the Moray Frith, and at the Smith Bank, 25 fathoms, and 16 miles 

 from land. The smallest specimens were under 4 inches (in breadth), and occurred at 

 the place last mentioned,^ and in St. Andrew's Bay, in 11 fathoms. None of the 

 localities enumerated, except Downies Bay, can be termed sheltered ; and I should 

 think that this ray is more abundant in deep, or moderately deep, water than near 

 the shore. Of the immature forms it appears that their range is as extensive as that 

 of the adults. 



1 In the Eecord of Observations (8th Eep. S. F. B., 1890, p. 208), the specimen 

 referred to is entered as a sand ray ; and in the absence of any interpretation in the 

 list of common and scientific names {op. cit., p. 40), is, I suppose, intended for this 

 species. 



