Actually, people around the Chesapeake refer to cownose rays as skates, but they are comletely different species. A skate is what you're more likely to catch in the ocean. They are smaller, have a shorter and stouter tail and have rougher skin. The common skate of the northeast is the clearnose skate. There is also the barndoor skate. The skate also does not have a stinger whereas the cownose ray does. Take a look into it and you'll find there are about 50 different species of skates and rays. Perhaps the true skates are better on the table.
SKATE

COWNOSE RAY