Thus the most vexatious and violent disputes would often arise between
the fishermen, were there not some written or unwritten, universal,
undisputed law applicable to all cases.
Perhaps the only formal whaling code authorized by legislative enactment,
was that of Holland. It was decreed by the States-General in A.D. 1695.
But though no other nation has ever had any written whaling law,
yet the American fishermen have been their own legislators
and lawyers in this matter. They have provided a system which
for terse comprehensiveness surpasses Justinian's Pandects and
the By-laws of the Chinese Society for the Suppression of Meddling
with other People's Business. Yes; these laws might be engraven
on a Queen Anne's farthing, or the barb of a harpoon, and worn
round the neck, so small are they.
I. A Fast-Fish belongs to the party fast to it.
II. A Loose-Fish is fair game for anybody who can soonest catch it.
But what plays the mischief with this masterly code is the admirable
brevity of it, which necessitates a vast volume of commentaries
to expound it.
First: What is a Fast-Fish? Alive or dead a fish is technically fast,
when it is connected with an occupied ship or boat, by any medium
at all controllable by the occupant or occupants,--a mast, an oar,
a nine-inch cable, a telegraph wire, or a strand of cobweb, it is all
the same.
Pages:
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648