What are the best loopholes found in history?

 In the 17th century, a priest in Venezuela was particularly fond of meat. Yet during the Catholic holiday of Lent, eating meat is not permissible — only fish may be consumed. So he wrote a letter to the Vatican.

He had found an animal, he said, which “lived in the water, had webbed feet” and “it even kind of tastes like fish when you cook it”. Would it be allowed to consume this creature during Lent? The Vatican replied, also by letter — it was allowed to eat the creature, provided they classify it a fish. So they did. And Venezuelans have been eating this animal ever since.[1]

What species do I speak of? The capybara. World’s largest rodent, a largely aquatic species that loves to dwell in water. A meat-lover’s delight — from giant hamster, to conveniently reclassified “fish”. One hell of a good loophole, if you ask me.

Footnotes [1] How the World's Largest Rodent Became a 'Fish'