The accused was charged with failing to return undersized crabs to the water " forthwith" . Because the crew were busy hauling traps off of the ground line, undersized crabs remained out of water for periods of 5 to 30 minutes before being measured and returned. The Court reviewed some of the definitions of " forthwith" and concluded that the Crown had failed to prove that the accused did not return the crabs to the water within a reasonable time.
Counsel for Accused: Brad M. Caldwell
Counsel for Crown: Donald Chang