spear''.

Alwyn Wilkinson, 53, of York Street, St. George's, was fined $200 in Magistrates' Court after he pleaded guilty to spear fishing one nautical mile off the Island.

Police, around 3.30 p.m. on September 16, responded to a report about a man spear fishing on the rocks at Fort St. Catherine, prosecuting Insp. Peter Duffy said.

Police found Wilkinson there with an object in his hand, he said.

Wilkinson told them he used the spear to catch octopi and denied he used it to fish.

But, Insp. Duffy said, Police noticed a parrot fish over two feet long with a hole pierced in it next to Wilkinson.

He later admitted the offence.

Wilkinson's lawyer, Mr. Richard Hector, asked Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis to be lenient with his client.

He said Wilkinson was an experienced fisherman who went to the spot to catch some bait.

"He has a spear he uses for octopi,'' Mr. Hector said, "but on this day he was using his net to catch octopi when he saw the parrot fish swim by.'' Mr. Hector said the fish swam by six to eight times before Wilkinson gave in to temptation and caught it with the spear.

"He should have spared the parrot fish, but instead he speared it,'' he said, adding that Wilkinson understood the reason for the law and was determined not to repeat the offence.

Mr. Hector also pointed out that Wilkinson was very cooperative with Police.

Mr. Francis said: "We have to discourage this and as a fisherman I'm sure you realise this.

"As Mr. Hector so eloquently put it, you have to spare fish from the spear.''