Reference for Bava Metzia 41:19
איתמר
R. JUDAH SAYS: WHATSOEVER HAS IN IT SOMETHING UNUSUAL MUST BE ANNOUNCED,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' v. infra 23a. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> AS, FOR INSTANCE, IF ONE FINDS A ROUND [OF FIGS] CONTAINING A POTSHERD, OR A LOAF CONTAINING MONEY. R. SIMEON B. ELEAZAR SAYS: NEW MERCHANDISE<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. infra 23b. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> NEED NOT BE ANNOUNCED. <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. IF ONE FINDS SCATTERED FRUIT, etc. What quantity [of fruit in a given space] is meant? R. Isaac said: A <i>kab</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A measure. V. Glos. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> within four cubits. But what kind of a case is meant? If [the fruit appears to have been] dropped accidentally, then even if there is more than a <i>kab</i> [it should] also [belong to the finder].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As the loser would have no means of identifying them. ');"><sup>20</sup></span> And if it appears to have been [deliberately] put down, then even if there is a smaller quantity it should not [belong to the finder]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As the owner evidently intended to come back for them and has not really lost them. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> — R. 'Ukba b. Hama answered: We deal here with [the remains of] what has been gathered on the threshing floor:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' After the harvest. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> [To collect] a <i>kab</i> [scattered over a space] of four cubits is troublesome, and, as people do not trouble to come back and collect it, [the owner also] abandons it, but if it is [spread over] a smaller space [the owner] does come back and collect it, and he does not abandon it. R. Jeremiah enquired: How is it [if one finds] half a <i>kab</i> [scattered over the space] of two cubits? Is the reason why a <i>kab</i> within four cubits [belongs to the finder] that it is troublesome [to collect], and therefore half a <i>kab</i> within two cubits, which is not troublesome to collect, is not abandoned [and should not belong to the finder], or is the reason [in the case of a <i>kab</i> within four cubits] that it is not worth the trouble of collecting [when spread over such a space], and therefore half a <i>kab</i> within two cubits, which is still less worth the trouble of collecting, is abandoned [and should belong to the finder]? [Again,] how is it [if one finds] two <i>kabs</i> [scattered over the space] of eight cubits? Is the reason why a <i>kab</i> within four cubits [belongs to the finder] that it is troublesome to collect, and therefore two <i>kabs</i> within eight cubits, which are still more troublesome to collect, are even more readily abandoned [and should certainly belong to the finder], or is the reason [in the case of a <i>kab</i> within four cubits] that it is not worth the trouble [of collecting], and therefore two <i>kabs</i> within eight cubits, which are worth the trouble [of collecting] are not abandoned [and should not belong to the finder]? [Again,] how is it [if one finds] a <i>kab</i> of poppy-seed [scattered over a space] of four cubits? Is the reason why a <i>kab</i> [of fruit] within four cubits [belongs to the finder] that it is not worth the trouble [of collecting], and therefore poppy-seed, which is worth the trouble [of collecting] is not abandoned [and should not belong to the finder], or is the reason [in the case of a <i>kab</i> within four cubits] that it is troublesome [to collect], and therefore poppy-seed, which is even more troublesome [to collect], is abandoned [and should belong to the finder]? [Again], how is it [if one finds] a <i>kab</i> of dates within four cubits, or a <i>kab</i> of pomegranates within four cubits? Is the reason why a <i>kab</i> [of ordinary fruit] within four cubits [belongs to the finder] that it is not worth the trouble of collecting, and therefore a <i>kab</i> of dates within four cubits, or a <i>kab</i> of pomegranates within four cubits, which also is not worth the trouble [of collecting] is abandoned [and should belong to the finder], or is the reason [in the case of a <i>kab</i> within four cubits] that it is troublesome to collect, and therefore a <i>kab</i> of dates within four cubits or a <i>kab</i> of pomegranates within four cubits, which are not troublesome [to collect], are not abandoned [and should not belong to the finder]? — The questions remain unanswered. It has been stated: