In which early Supreme Court case was the concept of state ownership of natural resources reaffirmed?

The correct answer is Geer v. Connecticut. In this landmark case, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the concept of state ownership of natural resources, specifically focusing on the regulation of wildlife and hunting. The Court held that states have the right to manage and control natural resources within their borders, including the authority to regulate the taking of game and fish. This decision established a precedent for state sovereignty over natural resources, allowing states to enact laws that serve the interests of conservation and management, reinforcing the idea that these resources belong to the state for the public good.

In contrast, McCready v. Virginia, while related to state rights, does not primarily deal with the ownership of natural resources in the same context as Geer v. Connecticut. The other cases mentioned, O'Bannon v. Virginia and Manchester v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, also do not specifically address the state's ownership and management of natural resources and focus on different legal issues. Thus, Geer v. Connecticut stands out as the pivotal case regarding state ownership and management of natural resources.