A CASE was brought before Sheriff Tyndall Johnston in September 1890 regarding salmon poaching on the River Forth near Alloa.

John Napier, the superintendent of the Forth District of Salmon Fishings of Stirling brought the case.

He accused George Bain, a mason, fishermen Robert Bremner, William Allan, William Cousin, and James Ferguson, and James McFarlane, a labourer, of having contravened The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1868 on Friday 5th September.

He said they had either been fishing or attempting to take the fish, or aided or assisted others in fishing illegally for salmon in the Forth using boats and nets during the annual close time, when salmon fishing was not permitted.

Napier wanted the men’s boats and nets confiscated and any other gear used in fishing, as well as a fine up to but not exceeding £5.

When they were discovered, they had salmon on board, and these were to be confiscated.

They were also expected to pay the expenses of the case coming to court. Up to six months imprisonment was also put on the table.

The incident happened between midnight and 4 o’clock in the morning, and one of the first on the scene was Oliver Derrick of the river police, accompanied by Neil Fotheringham.

Sometime between 12.30 and 1 a.m., the two men noticed three small boats heading down the river between the Alloa Quay and Clackmannan Jetty.

In each of the boats were three men with nets. He could see them clearly as it was a bright moonlight night.

For the next two hours, they watched them and saw two salmon being landed and killed.

The men in the boats communicated with each other and each made their way to a smack anchored opposite Alloa Quay where the fish were landed.

Derrick and Fotheringham made their way towards the poachers, where all but one of them had been apprehended by water bailiffs who had been lying in wait on the shore.

The sheriff found that of all the men, Allan seemed to be the most vehement that he was not involved, but in the end, he fined them £2 each with 15s each for expenses.

He told them the alternative would be 30 days in prison, but they were allowed up to 14 days to pay the fine and expenses.

The boats and nets were also forfeited.

Eventually a fisherman called Strachan came forward and admitted to being the sixth man, and Allan was exonerated.