By Azad Ali www.guardian.co.tt

Two Barbadian fisherman yesterday left Scarborough with the load of fish which they caught in T&T waters on the weekend.

The load contained an estimated 3,500 flying fish, 13 king fish and 11 dolphins.

The fishermen, Joseph Mason and Samuel Firebrace, were on Monday freed of a charge of fishing illegally in T&T territorial waters.

The catch, seized from two boats intercepted by the Coast Guard patrol boat TTS Crown Point off Tobago on Friday, was handed back to the two captains.

The seized vessels were also returned to them.

On Monday, police offered no evidence against 47-year-old Mason, captain of P-28 L-Petes and Firebrace, 61, captain of P-16.

They were freed by Magistrate Joan Gill in the Scarborough Magistrates' Court.

Coast Guard officers found approximately 2,500 flying fish and 10 dolphins aboard Firebrace's boat while Mason had 1,000 flying fish, 13 king fish and one dolphin aboard.

The Coast Guard officials said they were surprised over a decision by the prosecution not to proceed with the case.

"Who advised the police to drop the charges?" one senior cop asked yesterday.

The freeing of the two fishermen, he argued, has also sent a signal to the Coast Guard to stay their hands on apprehending Barbadian boats found fishing in T&T waters, until the fishing dispute between the two countries is resolved.

Following the arrest of the fisherman, Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur held an emergency Cabinet meeting and threatened sanctions against T&T businessmen with interests in his country.