Skate Egg Cases "Mermaids Purses"

     This tangle of skate egg cases, colloquially called by some "Mermaids Purses," were hooked and landed by a surf fisherman at Mayport Naval Station beach, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida on 5/3/2008. According to the fisherman, the baby skates were born on the beach immediately following the removal of the egg cases from the water.