Migrations of thorny skate, Raja radiata, tagged in the Newfoundland area

From the taggings of 722 thorny skates, Raja radiata, in the Newfoundland area during 1962-65, returns were 19 % from coastally-related taggings and 5 % from offshore taggings in deep water. The usual patterns of migration were movements of less than 60 nautical miles from the tagging local ities up to 20 years after tagging. Two were recaptured near the tagging sites after 15-16 years. Of 97 returns with known recapture locations, 13 % were taken 100-240 miles from the tagging sites in 0.2-11 years. In the absence of a primary fishery for skates in the region, the recaptures came from fisheries for other species, usually for cod, Gadus morhua, in coastal and near-coastal waters and for various groundfish species in the offshore areas. Depth of recaptures ranged from 22 to 457 m but 77% were taken in 22-183 m. Bottom gillnets accounted for 68 % of the returns, with 31 % from longline and otter-trawl catches