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.''
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