Fish’s way to cross frozen water? (5)

I believe the answer is:

skate

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'fish's' is the definition.
(skate is a kind of fish)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for skate that I've seen before include "A ray; slide smoothly" , "Glide on ice; ray" , "Food fish" , "Glide like large fish" , "Large edible ray" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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