HAMMURABI'S CODE 379 



A document of the twenty-first century brings to light 

 further evidence of the economic importance of fish and of 

 the rights of fishing, and what to us modern fishermen is of 

 intenser interest — the first case on record of Poaching ! 



This occurred in the reign of Samsu-iluna, the successor 

 to the great Hammurabi. The latter's Code of laws of 287 

 sections was considered on its discovery some twenty years 

 ago to be a Digest of Babylonian decisions, but the recent 

 finding of a clay tablet, clearly the prototype of the Code, 

 proves its Sumerian origin. 



It not only illuminates vividly the social and economic con- 

 ditions of Babylon, but estabhshed for generations the status, 

 the rights, the duties flowing from contracts or arising from 

 injury. 



Its scope is curiously wide. It includes, for instance, 

 provisions to meet such rare cases as injuries which resulted 

 in the miscarriage of women. The similarity of enactment 

 in these cases and in divorces demonstrates inter alia how 

 marked was the Code's influence on the Mosaic legislation some 

 seven centuries later. 



Every one of Hammurabi's subjects could by its help 

 acquire a clearer conception of his individual property. The 

 letter or rescript of Sansu-iluna shows that rights of fishing 

 were acknowledged and enforceable. 



The Rescript runs : — 



" Unto Sin-idinnam, Kar-Sippar, and the Judges of 

 SiPPAR say, Thus saith Samsu-iluna. They have reported 

 (unto me) that the ships of the fishermen go down unto 

 the district of Rabim and to the district of Shakanim 



AND catch fish. I AM THEREFORE SENDING (UNTO THEE) AN 



official of the Palace Gate. When he shall reach thee, 



THE ships OF THE FISHERMEN WHICH ARE IN THE DISTRICT 



OF Shakanim (shalt thou . . . ^) and thou shalt not 



AGAIN SEND THE SHIPS OF THE FISHERMEN DOWN INTO THE 

 DISTRICT OF RaBIM OR THE DISTRICT OF ShAKANIM.^ 



^ The hiatus probably may be filled by the word "recall," or "bring 

 away." 



* Letters oj Hammurabi (London, 1898-1900), vol. III. pp. 121-3, L. W. 

 King. 



2 C 



