State v. . Gallop

Clark, J., after stating the case. The evidence is that the decoys, where the ducks were invited, and expected to alight, were “tied out in the sound.” But even had they been in the “lead,” that, according to the evidence, would have been one of the “tributaries of the sound*’ within the language of the act. The sole question then, is as to the constitutionality of the act under which the defendant, employed by the adjacent landowners for the purpose of interfering with duck hunting by others on the sound or one of its tributaries on the water front opposite their land, is indicted for preventing duck hunting there by the prosecutor. *982 The evidence states that the boat of the defendant was “not on the club’s property,” so the prosecutor who was still farther out was not a trespasser and liable as such, but had he been himself liable to indictment for trespassing, that would have been no defense to the defendant for acts avowedly done for tiie purpose of interfering with the prosecutor’s hunting upon “the sound or one of its tributaries,” and not merely to procure his removal fjrom premises on which he was trespassing. The defendant ledS his sail fluttering, so no ducks would come, and said he was employed to do it. The shooting club, which employed the defendant for the purpose of breaking up or discouraging duck hunting on the sound and its tributaries on their water front, it was stated on the argument, bought the land for the purpose of enjoying such hunting themselves, and doubtless deem it a hardship that they can not keep off others. The ownership of game is in the people of the State, and the legislature may withhold or grant to individuals the right to hunt and kill game, or qualify or restrict it, as in its opinion will best subserve the public welfare. Magner v. The People, 97 Ill., 320, 334; State v. Rodman, 58 Minn., 393. No one has property in animals and fowls, denominated “game,” until they are reduced to possession. 2 Kent Com. (8th Ed.), 416 et seq.; Cooley on Torts, 435 ; State v. House, 65 N. C., 315. The shooting club owned the adjacent shore, but they could have no' property rights in the wild ducks which came, like the wind, whence they would and went where they listed. The landowners had no right to prevent their settling in the sound to the lure of the prosecutor’s decoys, and the statute made it a misdemeanor to prevent them.. At common law, title to game was in the King (with us now in the sovereign people), and no one could hunt game even on his own land without a franchise from the sovereign. 2 Bl. *983 Com., 411; 4 Bl. Goan., 174. Wild game within, a State belongs to its people in their collective sovereign capacity. It is not the subject of private ownership except when some express statute confers it. Ex Parte Maier, 103 Cal., cited with approval in Geer v. Connecticut, 161 U. S., 519, 529. With us, landholders can keep others from hunting on their land, not by virtue of their ownership of the game, but from their right to keep trespassers off the land, or by express statutory enactment. The Legislature has constantly asserted the State’s sovereignty by prohibiting the owners of land, equally with others, from hunting or fishing at certain seasons, or by certain methods, or for a certain number of years, and as to some animals or fowls at any time. Phelps v. Racey, 60 N. Y., 10; State v. Norton, 45 Vt., 258; or forbidding anyone having game,dead or alive, in possession. Haggerty v. Storage Co.. 40 L. R. A., 151. Maine, in his “Village Communities,” 1.42, says, this ownership of game by the sovereign has been-in the common law from the earliest time. The same is trus-as to fish, and the right of the State to regulate or prohibit fishing is well settled. Burnham v. Webster, 5 Mass., 266 ; Nickerson v. Brackett, 10 Mass., 212; Gentile v. State, 29 Ind., 409. Even to a marine league out to sea, since the jurisdiction of the State extends that far. Manchester v. Massachusetts, 139 U. S., 240. So well recognized is it that the ownership of game and' fish is in the State and not in individuals, that the decisions are uniform that a State may confer exclusive right of fishing and hunting upon its citizens, and expressly exclude nonresidents, without infringing that provision of the Constitution of the United States (Art. IV, sec. 2) which provides that “the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States.” McCready v. Virginia, 94 U. S., 391; State v. Medbury, 3 *984 R. I., 138; Paul v. Hazleton, 37 N. J., 106, and may impose .higher penalties on non-residents who violate the game laws than on residents. Allen v. Wyhoff, 48 N. J. L., 90; 8 Am. and Eng, Enc. (1st Ed.), 1032. Indeed, so completely is the ownership of public waters in the State (subject to the paramount control of the United 'States as to navigation) that the State can' absolutely forbid the use of its waters for fishing or planting oysters by nonresidents (McCready v. Virginia,, supra), and of course for hunping purposes. And the State may forbid the transportation of dead game beyond its borders, or killing or having it in possession for that purpose. Geer v. Connecticut, supra. So the shooting club, the owners of the adjacent land, had no right of hunting upon their own land contrary to regulations prescribed by law, and the law gave them no rights over the hunting on the sound and its tributaries superior to that of the prosecutor. The Legislature ■ was within its.power when it forbade anyone to interfere with ■“any citizen gunning or fishing in Currituck Sound or its tributaries to keep them from shooting,” etc. Nor is it a valid objection that the act here forbidden is not made a crime elswhere in tire State, since it bears alike on all persons in the defined locality. Broadfoot v. Fayetteville, 121 N. C., 418, citing numerous local acts, forbidding sale of liquor, sale of seed cotton, stock running a,t large, etc. State v. Jones, Ibid, 616; State v. Groves, Ibid, 632; Guy v. Commissioners, 122 N. C., 471; Bennett v. Commissioners, 125 N. C., 468. No error.