99 
THORN BACK RAY. 
RAY-MAID. 
liaia Clavata, 
(( 
Ilaie Bouclee, 
Raia Clavata, 
f( « 
« « 
K <• 
LiKNJETrS. 'WlI.LIJGHBT ; p. 74. 
Blocu; pi. 83, but the tail too long. 
L.iCEPEDE. BrISSO. 
Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 170. 
Jenyns; Manual, p. 205. 
Yarrell; Br. Fisbes, vol. ii, p. 582. 
Gray; Catalogue Br. Museum, p. 136. 
This is one of the coiiinioiiest of the Hays, auJ the most 
valued; as it affords a large amount of nourishment in a form 
readily digested by the stomach. By fishermen accordingly it 
is frequently reserved in a salted state for the subsistence of 
their families, at a time when the state of the weather forbids 
them from following their employment at sea. It is best 
preserved under heavy pressure; as we are informed is also 
the case with the Skate in some parts of Scotland; par- 
ticularly in the Moray Firth. But, as we learn from Walter 
Gre<^or, Esq., of Macduff, in the practice of that neighbourhood 
the use of salt is dispensed with. Large stones are heaped upon 
them in order to press out the juices; and the only attention 
paid to it afterwards is, to secure it from rain and moisture. 
The water in which either of these fishes has been boiled, 
employed as a bath, is in repute for the cure of the gout. 
The Thornback is found in shallower water, and nearer land, 
than most others of this family; and in consequence is taken 
at all seasons. But its numbers are much lessened of late years; 
the cause of which is supposed to be the increased practice of 
fishing with trawls; by which not only the young ones, too 
small^to be used as food, are destroyed, but the ground is torn 
up, and the food on which the fish must subsist dispersed, 
with the destruction of the shelter necessary for the perfection 
