Occupantis Fiunt Derelicta

Things abandoned become the property of the first occupant. 1 Pet. Adm. (U. S.) 53. OCCUPARE (Lat.)

In the civil law. To seize or take possession of; to enter upon a vacant possession; to take possession before another. Calv. Lex. OCCUPATIO Lat. from occupare, to occupy).

In the civil law. A taking possession of a thing which before belonged to nobody (quod ante nullius est); as of wild beasts and other wild animals, property and persons captured in war, gems and other things found upon the seashore, etc. Inst. 2. 1. 12.' 17. 18. See Fleta, lib. 3, c. 2.

Abandoned goods go to the first taker.

Things abandoned become the property of the (first) occupant. Taylor-v. The Cato, 1 Pet. Adm. 53, Fed. Cas. No. 13,786.