Pound

Pound, in English law, means an enclosure, of which there was generally one in every parish or manor, in which stray cattle were put and detained until the damage done by them was paid for. Whenever a stranger's or neighbour's cattle trespass on another's lands the latter can seize them, and take them to the pound, or impound them, as it is called, damage feasant, and can keep them there till the expenses are repaid. There was a distinction between pound overt, or common pound, and pound covert, or close pound; in the former case the owner of the beasts could go and feed and water his cattle while impounded, and it was his duty to do so; but not in the latter case. Now it is compulsory for the impounder in all cases to supply the cattle with food, otherwise he incurs a penalty; and if impounded cattle are not sufficiently fed a stranger who feeds them may not only trespass on lands to do so, but can recover the costs from the owner of the beasts. Goods distrained, if liable to be stolen or damaged, should be deposited in pound covert. At Madresfield, near Malvern, a public pound was repaired so recently as 1888; but practically they are quite obsolete, since the law now permits a person distraining for rent to secure the distress on the premises (see DISTRESS). In the United States estrays are generally liable to be sold for the benefit of the poor of the place where they are found, or for some other public use.