Моби Дик

Fast-Fish and Loose-Fish

           NowinthepresentcaseErskinecontendedthattheexamplesofthewhaleandtheladywerereciprocallyillustrativetoeachother.

           Thesepleadings,andthecounterpleadings,beingdulyheard,theverylearnedJudgeinsettermsdecided,towitThatasfortheboat,heawardedittotheplaintiffs,becausetheyhadmerelyabandonedittosavetheirlives;butthatwithregardtothecontrovertedwhale,harpoons,andline,theybelongedtothedefendants;thewhale,becauseitwasaLoose-Fishatthetimeofthefinalcapture;andtheharpoonsandlinebecausewhenthefishmadeoffwiththem,it(thefish)acquiredapropertyinthosearticles;andhenceanybodywhoafterwardstookthefishhadarighttothem.Nowthedefendantsafterwardstookthefish;ergo,theaforesaidarticlesweretheirs.

           AcommonmanlookingatthisdecisionoftheverylearnedJudge,mightpossiblyobjecttoit.Butplougheduptotheprimaryrockofthematter,thetwogreatprincipleslaiddowninthetwinwhalinglawspreviouslyquoted,andappliedandelucidatedbyLordEllenboroughintheabovecitedcase;thesetwolawstouchingFast-FishandLoose-Fish,Isay,willonreflection,befoundthefundamentalsofallhumanjurisprudence;fornotwithstandingitscomplicatedtraceryofsculpture,theTempleoftheLaw,liketheTempleofthePhilistines,hasbuttwopropstostandon.

           Isitnotasayingineveryone’smouth,Possessionishalfofthelaw:thatis,regardlessofhowthethingcameintopossession?Butoftenpossessionisthewholeofthelaw.

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