contraband

Property rights in intoxicants depend on state laws and cease if the liquor becomes contraband

Against law or treaty; prohibited; goods exported from prohibited from carrying during war to the which by the law of nations a belligerent has ing a neutral from furnishing to an enemy, such tions of war.

Against law or treaty; prohibited. Goods exported from or imported into a country against its laws. Brande. Articles, the importation or exportation of which is prohibited by law. P. Enc. ammunilion, which, by the rules of international law, cannot lawfully be furnished or earried by a neutral nation to either of two belligerents; if found in transit in neutral vessels, such goods may be seized and condemned for violation of neutrality. A recent American author on international law says that, “by the term ‘contraband of war,’ we now understand a elass of: articles of commerce which newtrtis are prohibited from furnishing to either one of the belligerents, for the reason that, by 80 doing, injury is done to the other belligerent;” and he treats of the subject, chiefly, in its relation to commerce upon the high seas. (Hall, Int. Law, 570,592.) 4 Hoisk. 345.

[from Lat. contra, against, and L. Lat. bannum, Ital. bando, an edict or proclamation.] Against law or treaty; prohibited.* Goods exported from, or imported into a country against its laws. Brande,

— Articles, the importation or exportation of which. prohibited by law. P. Cyclopcedia,

mar. law, in its most extensive sense means all commerce which is carried on contrary to the laws of the state. The term is usually applied to that commerce which is so carried on in time of war. Merlin, Répert. h. t. Commodities particularly useful in war are contraband, as arms, ammunitions, horses, timber for ship building, and every kind of naval stores. When articles come into use as implements of war, which were before innocent, they may be declared to be contraband. The greatest difficulty to decide what is contraband seems to have occurred in the instance of provisions, which have not been held to be universally contraband, though Vattel admits that they become so on certain occasions, when there is an expectation of reducing an enemy by famine. In modern times one of the principal criteria adopted by the courts for the decision of the question, whether any particular cargo of provisions be confiscable as contraband, 1s to examine whether those provisions be in'a rude or manufactured state; for all articles, in such examinations, are treated with greater indulgence in their natural condition than when wrought up for the convenience of the enemy’s immediate use. Iron unwrought, 1s therefore treated with indulgence, though anchors and it, are directly contraband. 1 Rob. Rep. 189. See Vattel, b. 3, c. 7; Chitty’s L. of Nat. 120; Marsh. Ins. 78; 2 Bro. Civ. Law, 311; 1 Kent, Com. 135; 3 Ib. 215. Contraband of war is the act by which, in times of war, a neutral vessel introduces, or attempts to introduce into the territory of one of the belligerent parties, arms, ammunitions or other effeets intended for, or which may serve hostile operations. Merlin, Reépert, h. t.; 1 Kent, Com. 135.