A FISH YARN

Evening Star, Issue 19275, 14 June 1926, Page 1

A FISH YARN

HOT AGGEPTED BY MAGISTRATE "A STUPID TALE" Fish stories are invariably taken with a grain or, two of salt. There is a license allowed to fishermen yrhich is additional to that granted for catching purposes—a license to tell stories about “the one that got away,’ etc. The stories told by three defendants in the Police Court this morning, however, were, as the magistrate (Mr Bundle) remarked, well over the limit. The charge against Duncan MFarlane, Albert William Hams, nnd Frederick Olsen Petersen was that of having trout in their possession during Die closed season. Constable' M‘Rae said he saw the three men and a boy by the Leith River. Harris jumped into the river and threw out a trout. V hen they saw witness all made off, and I’etersen threw a hag into the water. Witness secured the men, and a- passer-by secured the bag, in which two fish were found. ,

M'Farlane nnd Petersen denied “making off” when they raw the witness, and the latter admitted that these defendants merely walked away. Alexander Moore, who recovered tho bag of fish, gave evidence. There v-ero two live trout in the hag. V itimss was too far off to identify the men. In answer to the defendants, witness said that the top fish was alive, tho bottom one may not have been. Sergeant Boulton said tho fish (produced) boro evidence of having been “gaffed.” One was alive when brought to tho station; both had ueen freshly caught. Defendant Petersen said that he and Harris were walking along the Leith bank on route to the football match, and saw a dead trout lying tn tho water. A hag was procured by someone, and someone else found arother fish, which they probably thought was “ half dead and half alive.” He dicln t see who put it in the hag. The Magistrate; Do you suggest that it swam into the bag?—Oh, no. Sub-inspector O’Halloran; Dc you always take a sugar bag with a dead fish in it 1 when you go to a football match?.—Oh, no. Defendant M'Farlane also elected to give evidence on oath. He denied any knowledge of tho fish transaction. Ho was standing with several oJims on the bank when the constable came up nnd took him and Harris io the police station. He did not see Harris jump into the river or throw up a fish or do anything. The .Magistrate; You are net bund, are vnu ?—No.

Further questioned ly the magistrate, defendant said Hint the group was probably there “ after the dead trout,” which was being c.iscussed. Deipnclant Harris said he saw the dead trout and “hopped in and got it.” So far as the live Dent was concerned, he did not know wnero <t came from. Nor did he know where the bag came from.

Robert Hanning . gave evidence icgarding the arrangements ior “stripping ” made by the Acclim i dsimorp Society. . ■ • Tho Magistrate said that, even allowing for a certain latitude usually granted in connection with fishing stories, ho was not impressed bv tho defendants’ stories. Each of the three men would be fined 40s, with 0s costs Mid 3s 4d expenses. A week was allowed in winch *o pay Mr Bundle added, as “a little piece of advice,’-’ that lie hoped the men wouldn’t come into court, agaii with such a stupid tale.