"Some kinds are said to be," answered Cousin Tom, "though I never tasted one myself. I have heard of fishermen eating certain parts of the skates caught along here. But I never saw any one do it. Whenever I catch a skate I throw it back into the water. I can't see that they are good for anything."
The skate which Laddie and Russ were watching, and which seemed to have been cast up on the beach by the waves, was flopping about, now and then raising itself on its queer legs, until, finally, the tide came up higher and washed it out into the sea again.
"I guess it's glad to get back in the ocean," said Russ.
"Yes," agreed his brother. "I'd have put it back in only I was afraid it might bite me."
"No, I don't believe it would," said Cousin Tom.
"There's heaps of funny things down at the seashore," said Laddie, as he watched to see if the skate would swim back, but it did not.
"Lots of funny things," agreed Russ.
"The shore is a good place to make riddles," went on Laddie.
"And it's a bad place to lose things," said his brother. "Look how Rose lost her locket."
"Yes, that was too bad," said Daddy Bunker. "I'm afraid we shall never find that now. There is so much sand here."