Occurs inshore and well offshore, over continental and insular shelves. Coastal, pelagic, and semi-oceanic, but often bottom associated at 1-139 m. Migrates northward in summer; young often in large aggregations of hundreds of individuals. Prefers to feed on small sharks, skates and stingrays, but also preys on bony fishes, shrimps, crabs, barnacles and cephalopods. Viviparous. Regarded as being dangerous to people, though only few can be tentatively attributed to this species due to its occurrence in temperate waters. Reported to cause poisoning. Caught occasionally by shark and tuna longline fisheries. Meat utilized fresh, dried-salted, and possibly smoked for human consumption; liver oil for vitamins, fins for soup, hide for leather, and carcasses