Seen using a net 246' long in the Chesterfield Canal an unemployed Nottingham man said he was only trying to retrieve a lost fishing rod. The net was so large it took four men to pull it from the narrow waterway.

East Retford magistrates also heard that ******** ********** had been "looking for his lost property" in the early hours of the morning. Also that a vehicle with a large water tank on the back had driven off when police arrived. The waterway is a rich coarse fishery and the stretch netted contains large chubb and carp.

Although the Chesterfield Canal passes through many miles of remote countryside ********** had chosen the length through the grounds of the Babworth Estate. A gamekeeper saw him handling the Seine net and called the police and the NRA.

Bringing in a guilty verdict on unlawful use of a net the magistrate imposed a fine of £100 and costs of £150. The £500 was also confiscated. The most serious charge of of poaching was not brought as no fish had been found in the net. An NRA spokesman said this was "an obvious attempt to steal fish and we take a dim view of poaching".

BW stressed that anyone seeing suspicious activities with nets or electric fishing machines on any waterway should not approach the people involved. Instead they should note any vehicle registrations and telephone the free 24 hour NRA Emergency Hotline (0800 807060). The NRA will inform BW and the police.

Original date of publication Spring 1995

Author - Christine Richardson