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 established 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. J 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... 1) AND THOU SHALT NOT 
AGAIN SEND THE SHIPS OF THE FISHERMEN DOWN INTO THE 
DISTRICT OF RABIM OR THE DISTRICT OF SHAKANIM.2 
1 The hiatus probably may be filled by the word “recall,” or “bring 
away.” 
2 Letters of Hammurabi (London, 1898~1900), vol. III. pp. 121-3, L. W. 
King. 
2C 
