82 



MARINE AND FISHERIES 



6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 



the snood; they are regarded with much disfavour. As Professor Prince pointed out 

 in his report on the ' Dogfish Pest in Canada ' (Fisheries Keport, Department of Marine 

 and Fisheries, Ottawa, 1903), this species has proved a most destructive enemy to the 

 sea fishermen's pursuits, and his recommendations to the government favouring reduc- 

 tion works for converting dogfish into fertilizer, oil, glue, &c., are now being carried 

 out. 



family: raiid^. 



3. Rata ocellata, Mitchill. — A most common species at Canso, though some of the 

 specimens which I examined may belong to the allied species R. erinacea. I found it 

 difficult to decide finally in the case of some examples. They were all taken in trap- 

 nets set for mackerel, close along the shore. I give the following details in regard to 

 four specimens : — 



Length. 



Nimiber 

 of 

 Teeth. 



Sex, 



Ocelli. 



700 mm , 



78 

 85 



Male 



Not distinct. 







689 mm 



69 

 77 





Absent. 









91 

 90 





Present. 









71 



73 



Male 



Absent. 







The last-named specimen exhibited several rows of spines along the tail, which 

 would indicate that it is R. ocellata; but in it and in the second specimen the number 

 of teeth present is intermediate between the diagnostic dentition of the two species. 

 In the two male specimens the double row of erectile spines points inward to the middle 

 line rather than backward. In none of those in which ocelli are present is there any 

 central dark spot. Their food was found to be dollar fish (Poronotus triacanthus) , the 

 cunner {Tautogoldhrus adspersus) and squid, remains of which occurred in the con- 

 tents of the stomach. 



4. Raia Icevis (Mitchell). — This species is frequently captured by the cod fisher- 

 men on their deep-sea trawls of hooks. The only specimen minutely examined by me 

 was 1,075 mm. long. In colour it was light-brown dorsally, with scattered duU black 

 spots. There were two large ocelli surrounded by a black ring; ventrally, it exhibited 

 small black spots; some of them were arranged in two rows. 



6. Raia radiata, Donovan. — This skate or ray is usually called the Starry Ray, and 

 it is the most common species taken on the local cod-trawls. Hence Drs. Jordan and 

 Evermann are not perfectly accurate, so far as eastern Nova Scotia is concerned, in 

 saying that this species is not common on the Atlantic coast. I have seen several 

 dozens taken in about three hours by one dory. Nor are the American authorities ac- 

 curate as to the size, as I have seen half a dozen amongst an afternoon's catch on board 

 a dory each of which exceeded three feet in length. Two that I measured accurately 

 were 994 mm. and 1,126 mm. long, the former being a female and the latter a male. 

 The fishermen informed me that they secure very frequently specimens of the dimen- 

 sions just specified. On two small specimens (145 mm. long) taken in the dredge 

 the lateral spines on the tail were quite rudimentary. A large spine was present just 



