At Cleator Moor Print E-mail
The Maryport Advertiser - May 5, 1882

AT CLEATOR MOOR.
_____
 
 
 
 At Cleator Moor, on Friday, Thomas BOWNESS, miner, Moor Row, was charged with having had salmon roe in his possession. Mr. WEBSTER who appeared for the Board of Conservators for the West Cumberland Fishery District said, that the defendant was charged with having on the 19th of the present month, illegally fished with salmon roe, or rather having had salmon roe in his possession. It was very desirable to put a stop to persons fishing with salmon roe, because they must to a great extent affect the rivers as they killed salmon for the purpose of getting roe.
 
 No doubt this person had been doing this on previous occasions. John ROBINSON, river watcher, said that on the 19th inst. He saw defendant fishing in the river Keekle, near Moor Row. He had reason to suspect that he was fishing with salmon roe, and he searched him, and found in his possession the pot of salmon row produced. Defendant took it out of his waistcoat pocket, and gave it to witness. Had seen him put his hand into the pocket that contained the roe.
 
 Mr. WATSON: Are there fish of the salmon tribe in that part?
 
 Witness: Yes sir.
 
 Defendant: Did you ever know of any?
 
 Witness: I have seen them in it. They come back there to spawn.
 
 Mr. WEBSTER: The information is for having salmon roe in his possession
 
 The Chairman: I think that according to the Act of Parliament you cannot use salmon roe at all?
 
 Mr. WEBSTER: No sir, you cannot use it legally.
 
 Mr. WATSON: Nor have possession of it?
 
 Mr. WEBSTER: It is an illegal thing to have possession of. This is a very good sample of it. I have fished with it myself in times gone by when it was legal to have it; bit it is illegal now.
 
 Mr. WATSON asked if the defendant knew that he had the option of paying something to the infirmary instead of being brought up here?
 
 Mr. WEBSTER: Perhaps it would have been more serious for him if he had been brought up before your worships.
 
 Mr. WATSON: I understand that it is sometimes done, and (to defendant): you ought to know it, I think.
 
 Defendant, in answer to the Bench, said he did not know that it was illegal to fish with salmon roe. This was the first time he had used it.
 
 The Chairman: Well, it is an offence to do so, and you ought to have known it. You are fined 30s including costs, with the option of a month’s imprisonment.
 
 
 
< Prev   Next >