THE manager of a fishmonger's shop in the West End of Glasgow was

yesterday fined #300 in a rare prosecution under the Wildlife and

Countryside Act.

Thomas Bell, 28, of Hogburn Road, Pollok, pled guilty at Glasgow

District Court to illegally offering wild geese for sale.

The court was told that on March 28, investigators from the Royal

Society for the Protection of Birds saw a sign in the window of

Beveridge, fishmongers, in Byres Road, which read: Wild geese -- try one

today. The sign was placed among various plucked carcases.

The RSPB officers bought a bird for #9, took it to the Department of

Zoology at Glasgow University, and reported the incident to the police.

Police, armed with a search warrant, went to the shop and spoke to Mr

Bell, who admitted that he had one wild goose in the window and one

hanging up in the fridge. He had got them from ''some chap that comes in

now and again''.

Mr Bell was cautioned and charged. The birds involved were two

barnacle geese and three greylag geese. The grey geese may be shot in

season and barnacle geese may be shot under licence, but neither may be

sold under the protection of wildlife legislation.

Mr Lachlan McNeill, agent for the accused, said that there was nothing

covert about his client's actions. He had been perfectly open about the

sale. Mr Bell's explanation was that he was simply ignorant of the

regulations. He did not appreciate any significant difference between

wild and domestic geese.

Mr McNeill told the court that the birds in question had been sent

over by the owner of the shop. Mr Bell had been reluctant to tell police

officers this at the time because of a ''misguided desire to protect the

proprietor''.

''I have checked this with the proprietor and he confirms that it is

quite correct,'' said Mr McNeill.

Fining Mr Bell #300, the stipendiary magistrate said: ''The accused is

a first offender but, at the same time, the penalty has to be seen as

one that will discourage further offences by other persons.''

After the case Mr Stuart Benn, assistant investigations officer for

the RSPB, said: ''We are very pleased with the decision. People in that

line of business should be aware of the rules and regulations and this

will serve as a reminder and discouragement to others.''