SKATE, the popular name of several species of ray COMMON SKATE (raja batis), known in Scotland as the blue skate or gray skate, and in the south of England as the tinker, isplentiful on most parts of the British coasts; the breadth of the body is to its length in the proportion of about four to three; the snout sharp; a slight concavity in the outline between the snout and the extreme lateral angle of the pectoral fin; a short hard tubercle in front of each eye, and another on the inner side of each; a single row of spines commencing on the dorsal ridge near the origin of the ventral tins, and reaching along the tail as far as the first of the two small fins which its bears; the upper liana grayish brown, the belly dusky white with darker lines. It attains a large size, having been known to weigh 200 lbs.—The LONG-NOSED SKATE (B. rostrata or mueronata) is remarkable for the elongation and sharpness of the snout. The upper surface is of a read color, the lowergrayish white. Time tail has a row of crooked spines. This species is not uncommon on the British coast., and attains a large size. The SHARP
NOSED SKATE (I?. oxyrhynehus) has also a very sharp snout, but less elongated. It is thicker in proportion to its other dimensions than any of the other British species, and attains a very great weight. The line of the body from time snout to the extreme lateral expansion is waved. The tail is armed with three rows of spines. The upper surface is of a brown color; the color being lighter than in the other species, this is generally known in Scotland as the white skate. The FLAPPER SKATE (K. intermedia) is very thin and broad; it has only a line of pointed tubercles ou the tail; time upper sur face is dark olive green, with numerous white spots. Skates are very voracious. They are often caught by lines, but time greater number of those brought to market are caught by trawl-nets. They are much esteemed for food in most countries, yet on some parts of the British coast they were until recently rejected as worthless.