barrister to fight his appeal against a 1990 conviction for using fish pots.

His appeal was set to be heard yesterday, but Mr. Alan Newman QC was unable to be in Bermuda.

Farias' lawyer Mr. Arthur Hodgson asked that the appeal be stood over until the next session of the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Newman was tied up in a case before the House of Lords which had dragged on longer than expected, Mr. Hodgson told the three Appeal Judges.

The barrister had spent much time preparing for the case and had "a close personal interest'' in it because of his speciality.

Acting president of the Court of Appeal the Hon. Mr. Justice da Costa, after remarking that more cases had been put over than heard in the current sitting, agreed to set the case down to be heard in the summer session.

The Environment Ministry banned fishpots in April of 1990 in a desperate bid to halt what it believed was a drastic decline in reef fish.

Fisherman who handed in their fishpots received financial compensation for loss of earnings.

Farias, however, did not turn in his pots and received nothing. Later in the year he was caught with the illegal traps and a catch of lobsters.

He was convicted and fined $2,000 in Magistrates' Court for illegal use and possession of fishpots.