Fisheries Act, 1924

Penalties for taking, selling, etc., salmon or trout during annual close season.

2.—(1) Every person who shall wilfully take or fish for, or aid or assist in taking or fishing for, any salmon or trout from or in any river, lake, or estuary, or from or in any part of the sea during the annual close season for salmon or trout respectively in that river, lake, estuary, or that part of the sea, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall on summary conviction thereof be punishable by a fine of not less than two pounds nor more than twenty-five pounds, together with a further fine of two pounds for every salmon or trout so taken or caught by him, and shall also forfeit every such salmon or trout and the net, engine, or instrument by which the same was so taken or caught.

(2) Every person who shall buy, sell or expose for sale, or have in his custody or possession any salmon or trout or any part of any salmon or trout taken from or caught in any river, lake or estuary, or any part of the sea during the annual close season for salmon or trout respectively in that river, lake, or estuary, or that part of the sea, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall on summary conviction thereof be punishable by a fine of not less than two pounds nor more than twenty-five pounds, together with a further fine of two pounds for every such salmon or trout or part of a salmon or trout so bought, sold, or exposed for sale by him or so in his custody and possession and shall also forfeit every such salmon or trout, or part of a salmon or trout.

(3) In any proceedings under the next foregoing sub-section, proof that a person bought, sold or exposed for sale or had in his custody or possession any salmon or trout or any part of any salmon or trout during the annual close season for salmon or trout respectively in any river, lake, or estuary in Saorstát Eireann or in any part of the sea adjacent to the coast of Saorstát Eireann shall be prima facie evidence that such salmon or trout was taken or caught during the annual close season for salmon or trout (as the case may require) in the river, lake, estuary, or part of the sea from or in which the same may have been taken or caught.